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Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield)

Smyth, Rev Martin (Belfast S)

Speller, Tony

Spicer, Sir Jim (Dorset W)

Spicer, Michael (S Worcs)

Squire, Robin

Stanbrook, Ivor

Stanley, Rt Hon Sir John

Steel, Rt Hon Sir David

Steen, Anthony

Stern, Michael

Stevens, Lewis

Stewart, Andy (Sherwood)

Stradling Thomas, Sir John

Sumberg, David

Tapsell, Sir Peter

Taylor, Ian (Esher)

Taylor, Rt Hon J. D. (S'ford)

Taylor, John M (Solihull)

Taylor, Matthew (Truro)

Taylor, Teddy (S'end E)

Tebbit, Rt Hon Norman

Temple-Morris, Peter

Thompson, D. (Calder Valley)

Thompson, Patrick (Norwich N)

Thorne, Neil

Thurnham, Peter

Townsend, Cyril D. (B'heath)

Tracey, Richard

Tredinnick, David

Trippier, David

Vaughan, Sir Gerard

Viggers, Peter

Waddington, Rt Hon David

Walden, George

Walker, A. Cecil (Belfast N)

Wallace, James

Waller, Gary

Wardle, Charles (Bexhill)

Warren, Kenneth

Watts, John

Wells, Bowen

Wheeler, Sir John

Whitney, Ray

Widdecombe, Ann

Wiggin, Jerry

Wilshire, David

Winterton, Mrs Ann

Winterton, Nicholas

Wolfson, Mark

Woodcock, Dr. Mike

Yeo, Tim

Young, Sir George (Acton)

Tellers for the Noes :

Mr. Alastair Goodlad and

Mr. David Lightbown.

Question accordingly negatived.

Amendments made : No. 333, in page 146, line 39, leave out any' and insert a significant'.

No. 334, in line 43, after extent', insert permitted under sub-paragraph (1)'.

No. 335, in line 43, leave out sub-paragraph (1)' and insert that sub- paragraph'.

No. 336, in page 147, line 8, at end insert--

(bb) prescribe restrictions on the extent to which the proprietor of a national newspaper may be a participant in a body corporate which is the holder of a licence to provide a relevant service falling within paragraph 1(2)(f) or (3)(b) in Part III of this Schedule, or in two or more such bodies corporate ;'.

No. 337, in line 32, leave out any' and insert a significant'. No. 338, in line 37, after extent', insert permitted under the sub-paragraph'.

No. 339, in line 50, at end insert--

(bb) prescribe restrictions on the extent to which the holder of a licence to provide a relevant service falling within paragraph 1(2)(f) or (3)(b) in Part III of this Schedule may be a participant in a body corporate which runs a national newspaper, or in two or more such bodies corporate ;'.

No. 340, in page 148, line 7, leave out from in' to end of line 8 and insert

a body corporate which runs a national or local newspaper, or in two or more such bodies corporate.'.

No. 341, in line 33, at end insert

or a national public telecommunications operator of any description specified in the order'.

No. 342, in line 42, after whole', insert

, or substantially the whole,'.-- [Mr. Mellor.]

Clause 6

General requirements as to licensed services

Amendments made : No. 230, in page 6, line 1, at end insert , by using images of very brief duration or by any other means, '.-- [Mr. Mellor.]

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Clause 8

General provisions as to advertisements

No. 491, in page 7, line 30, at end insert--

(2A) Nothing in subsection (2) shall be construed as prohibiting the inclusion in a licensed service of any party political broadcast which complies with the rules (so far as applicable) made by the Commission for the purposes of section 33.'.-- [Mr. Mellor.]

Clause 11

Use by Commission of recordings etc. to monitor programmes

Amendments made : No. 615, in page 10, line 8, leave out may include conditions enabling the Commission to require' and insert

shall include conditions requiring'.

No. 616, in line 13, leave out

to produce any such recording to the Commission'

and insert

at the request of the Commission, to produce to them any such recording'.

No. 617, line 15, leave out

to produce to the Commission'

and insert

at the request of the Commission, to produce to them'.

No. 618, in line 15, after script', insert or transcript'. No. 231, in line 17, at end insert--

(3) Nothing in this Part shall be construed as requiring the Commission, in the discharge of their duties under this Part as respects licensed services and the programmes included in them, to view such programmes in advance of their being included in such services.'.-- [Mr. Mellor.]

Clause 12

Audience research

Amendments made : No. 232, in page 10, line 18, at end insert-- (a)'.

No. 233, in line 20, at end insert--

(b) any effects of such programmes on the attitudes or behaviour of persons who watch them ; and

(c) the types of programme that members of the public would like to be included in licensed services.'.-- [Mr. Mellor.]

Clause 14

Establishment of Channel 3

Amendment proposed : No. 117, in page 11, line 15, at end insert--

(2A) If it appears to the Commission that it would be appropriate for a particular Channel 3 service to do so, they may determine that the service shall include the provision of different programmes-- (

(a) for such different parts of the area for which it is provided, or

(b) for such different communities living within that area, as they may determine.'.-- [Mr. Mellor.]

Mr. Deputy Speaker : With this it will be convenient to take Government amendments Nos. 239 and 118.

8 pm

Mr. Maclennan : It would be churlish to allow this moment to go by without saying how grateful we in Scotland are to the Government for amendment No. 239, which has been tabled in response to a debate we had in

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Committee and will ensure that the Scottish channels cannot all be acquired by a single company. I thank the Government.

Mr. Mellor : I am touched by what the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) has said. We have sought to honour that and all the other undertakings that were given, and I am glad that this is a popular move.

Dr. Kim Howells (Pontypridd) : This group of amendments touches on crucial issues affecting the television service in Wales and provides a valuable opportunity to improve that service. The Broadcasting Bill affects Wales in two major ways. First, it recognises the success of the Welsh fourth channel S4C and goes some way towards securing its continued financial security. It also sets out the future of Channel 3, which includes the franchise area for Wales.

ITV's strength has been its commitment to regional programming, and its regulation by the IBA has been a key factor in maintaining a generally high standard of quality programming. Both the BBC and Channel 3 Wales are catering for a country with particular assets and problems, and should be helped to improve consistently their contacts with the people of Wales in order for local experience to receive the expression that it deserves. Without a genuinely broad menu of local programming, television does not present a valid picture of the area that it serves. The Bill and the amendments prompt us to decide where we stand on the balance between television as a service and as a business.

Wales is a small country and its population, in viewing terms, a minority audience. The interests of the audience in English and Welsh, and of the television industry in Wales, must benefit as much as possible from the legislation. Apart from Northern Ireland, Wales may be the only television region to be served on Channel 3 by a single company. That should oblige the winner of the franchise to be particularly aware of its obligations. If it falls short of the obligations, there will be no other Channel 3 company producing Welsh programming in the English language. The obvious consequences would be grave.

Already the Government have accepted that there should be specific provision for children's religious and regional programming. Further provision should be enshrined in the Bill to ensure that the Channel 3 company in Wales will have a specific duty to produce certain types of programming. I am concerned that the absence of a legal requirement will create loopholes for the unscrupulous to exploit. The ITC is to be allowed to draw up illustrative guidelines, but it is not yet clear how well equipped the commission will be to insist on the standards for which it aims. I fear, too, that without certain quality provision being written into the Bill the general standard of programming on Channel 3 will deteriorate.

The television industry in Wales is a major employer. The Bill should enhance that status and not threaten it. The integrity of Wales as a national region must be preserved. Unlike the position in Scotland, Channel 3 in Wales is represented by a single franchise which coincides with the national boundaries. The Bill does not eliminate the possibility of Wales being divided between two or more non-Welsh franchisees--for example, a company based in Manchester and perhaps another based in London or Bristol. If that happened, indigenous Welsh programming could disappear. Wales should remain a national television

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