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25 October 1990
House of Commons
Debate on "due impartiality"
(as outlined in Clause 6 of the Broadcasting Bill)
Taken from Hansard volume 178, beginning at column 520
Orders of the Day
Broadcasting Bill
Lords amendments considered.
Ordered.
That the Lords Amendments to the Broadcasting Bill be considered in the following order, namely, Nos. 22, 35, 46 to 48, 111, 399 to 406, 466 to 499, 1 to 21, 23 to 34, 36 to 45, 49 to 110, 112 to 398, 407 to 465 and 500 to 676.-[Mr. Chapman.]
Clause 6
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AS TO LICENSED SERVICES
Lords amendment: No. 22, in page 6, line 38, at end insert-
("(4A) The rules specified in the code referred to in subsection (3) shall, in particular, take account of the following matters-
(a) that due impartiality should be preserved on the part of the person providing a licensed service as respects
major matters falling within subsection (1)(c) as well as matters falling within that provision taken as a whole; and
(b) the need to determine what constitutes a series of programmes for the purposes of subsection (2).
(4B) The rules so specified shall, in addition, indicate to such extent as the Commission consider appropriate-
(a) what due impartiality does and does not require, either generally or in relation to particular circumstances;
(b) the ways in which due impartiality may be achieved in connection with programmes of particular descriptions;
(c) the period within which a programme should be included in a licensed service if its inclusion is intended to
secure that due impartiality is achieved for the purposes of subsection (1)(c) in connection with that programme
and any programme previously included in that service taken together;
and
(d) in relation to any inclusion in a licensed service of a series of programmes which is of a description specified
in the rules-
(i) that the dates and times of the other programmes comprised in the series should be announced at the
time when the first programme so comprised is included in that service, or
(ii) if that is not practicable, that advance notice should be given by other means of subsequent programmes
so comprised which include material intended to secure, or assist in securing, that due impartiality is achieved
in connection with the series as a whole;
and those rules shall, in particular, indicate that due impartiality does not require absolute neutrality on every issue
or detachment from fundamental democratic principles.")
4.25 p.m.
The Minister for the Arts (Mr. David Mellor): I beg to move, that this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.
Mr. Speaker: With this it will be convenient to discuss the following Lords amendments: Nos. 15, 17 to 20, 135, 136, 170, 172, 174, 175, 252, 253, 255 and 257 to 260.
Mr. Mellor: I should like to begin by saying that it is with a very real sense of loss that I record my deep regret at the passing of our late colleague Norman Buchan. I had a lot to do with Norman during my 10 years in the House.
Column 521
On some occasions we agreed; on others we did not. However, I was never in any doubt about the calibre of the man and his commitment to a whole range of issues that were well worth being committed to - not least the arts. Even if one disagreed with him, one did so cordially and with humour, as was so evident in Committee. One could always have a chat outside the Committee Room with him in the utmost amity.
I respected and liked Norman. I am deeply distressed that he is not with us today. Our debates will not be the same without him. It came as a shock to me yesterday to read of his passing. I am sure that the whole House joins me when I say that we feel a real sense of loss at his passing.
If I may refer to another preliminary matter, this is the first group of amendments to be dealt with after the Bill's return to us from another place. About 700 amendments were made in the other place. I should like to express my gratitude to the Opposition for their co-operation in ensuring that we can manage the debates in a way that will allow any remaining controversial issues to be dealt with early. I am also grateful for the assistance given by all parties in the House, but particularly by the official Opposition, which has led to a grouping of the amendments that will, I hope, enable us to have sensible debates.
I make no apology for the fact that there is a large number of amendments. We shall almost immediately discover that some are a little controversial, but most represent the Government giving effect to agreements reached in the Commons as a result of the open debate that we had. They also reflect our continuing commitment to listen to points made in debate. When, after debate, a point appears to have such force that it should not be impeded by Government obstruction, we have been only too willing to concede it. Lord Ferrers, the Minister of State, was particularly effective in conducting the Bill through the other place. He gave way gracefully and without ill will. I refer in particular to the moratorium on takeovers. We were able to meet what seemed to be the unanimous view on Second Reading in the other place that something ought to be done.
A document extending to four and a half pages includes the changes that were made in the other place. Some of them reflect our willingness to recognise the strength of feeling in the Lords-for example, in relation to the disabled and the indexation of cash bids. All those changes make it a better Bill, as do a large number - I am sorry that it is such a large number - of technical amendments that reflect the continued combing through of the Bill by the draftsmen to ensure that any minor problems were ironed out. As we know, the odd injudicious comma or the wrong word, even if it does not amount to a matter of policy, can sometimes skew meaning in a way that raises problems later. Therefore, I apologise for burdening the House with so many amendments, but I believe that for the most part they are in a good cause.
I shall deal immediately with a group of amendments that I suspect some will not think are in such a good cause. That controversial set of amendments relates to impartiality and it is right that they should be dealt with first. I shall set out my stall on the matter and then listen with care to what is said on both sides of the House and, I hope, respond later.
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