Ministers reject TV news orders

Ministers said compulsion to give details of debates would be wrong

Ministers have rejected a demand that TV channels should be made to include details of upcoming parliamentary debates in their main news bulletins.

Conservative peer Lord Vinson told the House of Lords the idea would "strengthen democracy".

But Lord Davies of Oldham, speaking for the government, said placing any compulsion on broadcasters would be "entirely inappropriate".

House of Lords debates have been televised since 1983.

'Connection'

Lord Vinson asked whether the government would "make it compulsory for broadcasting organisations to state briefly, in their main news bulletins, the forthcoming days' debates in both Houses of Parliament to enable better connection of the public with Parliament".

He said: "It would strengthen the whole profile of Parliament and strengthen our democracy."

But one peer said forcing TV stations to carry details of forthcoming debates would create a "broadcasting system like the Soviet Union once had".

Lord Davies said the BBC charter already put the broadcaster under "obligation with regard to the reporting of parliamentary proceedings...

"What he [Lord Vinson] was requesting was direct instruction from the government, which would be entirely inappropriate.

"It's also up to Parliament to make sure that its work is well received."