asked Her Majesty’s Government:

In light of their ambition to reconnect Parliament with the public, whether they will make it a condition of broadcasting licence agreements that broadcasting organisations should state briefly in their main news bulletins the forthcoming day’s business in both Houses of Parliament.

My Lords, the answer to the noble Lord’s Question is no. Under our current broadcasting arrangements, responsibility for what is broadcast on television and radio rests with the broadcasters and the organisations that regulate broadcasting—Ofcom, the BBC Trust and the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority. They are independent of the Government and are responsible for safeguarding the public interest in broadcasting.

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply. I believe that he will share the concern of many in this House about the increasing disconnection between Parliament and the people. There are specialist programmes, not least on the BBC, but you have to turn them on especially to listen to them and the routine day-to-day work of both Houses seldom gets a mention. My simple and costless idea would constantly remind the public, both consciously and subconsciously, of where the governance of this country springs from, or at least where it ought to spring from. I hope the noble Lord agrees that we all too easily take democracy for granted and that ideas such as this one surely give it a helping hand.

My Lords, of course I agree with the sentiments that the noble Lord has expressed. As he will appreciate—we recently discussed a similar Question—it is a very big step indeed to move from seeking to make the public more aware of Parliament’s work and this House’s responsibility, which this House is increasingly discharging, to giving instructions to broadcasters, when we pride ourselves on the fact that broadcasters are independent of government.

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that there is a problem with the legislation or the instructions on this? Did he notice the speech the other day by the director-general, who talked about doing some very creative things on covering Westminster, the regional Assemblies and local politics? It would be no bad thing if the noble Lord, Lord Vinson, and others wrote in to raise the point with the director-general, who is open to some creative thinking. What is rather more worrying is the decision by the independent television authorities to restrict coverage in the regional areas of Britain. It causes me some concern.

My Lords, the director-general has suggested initiatives and we should welcome them because it improves our democracy if our nation is more understanding of Parliament’s work and how we conduct democracy in this country. I am grateful to my noble friend for drawing attention to the director-general. On the other point, my noble friend will recognise that independent television has obligations for the provision of news. Certain aspects of regional news are being reduced but it is still very extensive coverage. As with the BBC, independent television news is expected to reach very high standards.

My Lords, I declare an interest as an associate of an independent production company. As I think I said when the noble Lord, Lord Vinson, asked this Question in October, is not part of the solution to give broadcasters, and through them the public, greater and easier access to what goes on in this place? Should we not be following the Scottish Parliament by welcoming broadcasters in and saying “Come on in”, rather than hiding behind rules and regulations that tend to make what comes out of this place rather dull, and which therefore do not encourage reconnection with the public?

My Lords, the noble Baroness will recognise that that is a question for the House authorities to address. It will also be appreciated how much progress on broadcasting the House’s work has been made in recent years. There are, as we know, not only specialist channels but very extensive coverage which leads the night before on what will be happening in Parliament the next day. However, it is for the House, not the Government, to decide how to be more welcoming to broadcasters and more open in those terms.

My Lords, can the noble Lord think of anything more likely to disconnect a sensible member of the public from Parliament than being subjected every day to a recitation of the order of business when he is trying to listen to the news?

My Lords, a by-product might be that we presented the business in a sharper and more focused way and in a more comprehensible fashion for the nation as well as for noble Lords and Members in the other place. However, the noble Lord is right: merely listing the business is unlikely to awaken the enthusiasm of the nation as a whole.

My Lords, will the Minister take a bet with me that the only item from your Lordships’ House’s business today that will be broadcast this evening is that relating to squirrels?

My Lords, nothing could prevent the broadcasters taking an interest in what my noble friend Lord Rooker has to say on that subject.