Documents / Document
This Ministry of Defence file, released through The National Archives and published by The Black Vault, holds the MOD's 2002 handling of Dr David Clarke's requests for UFO documents under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. It includes the MOD's 9 December 2002 reply, which covered reports from 1976, 1980, 1993 and 1996 and charged £260. It also contains internal emails and file requisitions, plus Foreign Office and United Nations papers from 1978 on Grenada's proposal for UFO research.
“Roberts”32 pages
. "',' 1451 Television [ 1 DECEMBER 1977 ] and Radio though of course if the BBC wish to approach us on this matter sometime next year we will be perfectly prepared to listen to what they have to say. I will, after what has arguably already been an overlong speech, sum up. I would repeat that we are glad to have had this opportunity-! speak for myself and, I am sure, for all who have partici- pated in the debate-to pay tribute to the valuable work which broadcasters un- doubtedly play in our society. When I was recently in the United States I was struck by the very high esteem with which programmes from this country were regarded. These programmes, both from the BBC and Independent Television, are finding their way on to the networks and public broadcasting stations in the United States. Both the BBC and Independent Television have offices in the United States selling British programmes and in 1976 the total volume of overseas sales for the BBC and IBA was over £18 million, and despite the undoubted fact that a substantial amount of foreign material is shown on British television, we still have a quite significant surplus on our balance of payments as far as television is concerned, which is a quite remarkable tribute to both the BBC and Independent Television. In the light of what my noble friend Lord Vaizey said, I shall . avoid the temptation to say we have the best tele- vision in the world. My Swedish is extremely poor, my German is non-existent and I am a little rusty even in my Nor- wegian, so I would certainly not make that claim. Nevertheless, choosingrathermore neutral language, I would say that our programmes stand comparison with those made anywhere else in the world. That is not to say that we should be pleased with everything that is produced. To be blunt, that would be an absurdly complacent view. Inevitably, there will be cases from time to time where it is believed that there have been lapses in taste and sometimes in sensitivity, but it is for the broadcasting authorities, not the Govern- ment, to deal with those. A few such alleged lapses have been mentioned this afternoon and we have had them more than touched on in the Press in recent months. Nevertheless, we recognise how essential is the function that the BBC and the Independent Broadcasting Authority perform at relatively modest cost to the community. There are many general benefits avaiiihle to all listeners and viewl?r~, a point men- tioned by many noble Lorqs in the debate. Apart from the dissemination of news and information, the encouragement of the arts and the promotion of education in all its forms, there are, -as the· noble Lord, Lord Winstanley, said, the special and particUlar benefits conferred on the aged, the infirm and the lonely, for whom ·life .without the· broadcasting services would indeed be a miserable existence. In the Government's view, no formal inquiry is needed to ensure that proper recognition is given to the valuable work done by our broadcasters. Nevertheless, this short de- bate has at least enabled some of the more positive achievements of the industry to secure wider recognition. Lord FERRIER: My Lords, before the noble Lord sits down, I should like to point out that I was looking forward to hearing the Government's view on my point about the broadcasting of infor- mation about Parliament. Lord HARRIS of GREENWICH: My Lords, despite what has been, as I have already indicated, an overlong speech, it has been impossible to deal with every point raised, but certainly what the noble Lord refers to is an important matter, and I will ensure that it is taken into account during our discussion of the Annan Report. WRITTEN ANSWERS CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION: HEATHROW AIRPORT Lord TREFGARNE asked Her Majesty's Government: How many Customs and Immigration officials are presently employed at Heathrow Airport and how many will be needed to man the new General Aviation Terminal there. The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER- SECRETARY of STATE. DEPART- MENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Baroness Birk): The numbers of Customs officers and Immigration Service staff employed at the Heathrow Airport passenger ter- minals on 31st October 1977 were, respectively, 392 and 509. The General
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