Dial-a-debate likely in U.K.

Press, 5 January 1987, Page 10

Dial-a-debate likely in U.K.

NZPA-Reuter London Ordinary Britons or even President Reagan or the Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, might soon be able to pick up a telephone and listen in to the British Prime Minister making a statement to Parliament. The House of Commons has so far refused to let television cameras into the chamber, but under a new dial-a-debate scheme to be considered by members of Parliament, the British public might hear live exchanges as early as next summer. Sir Philip Goodhart, a Conservative legislator and chairman of the Commons Select Committee on Sound Broadcasting, unveiled details of the proposal. This has been devised in conjunction with the telecommunica-

tions firm, British Telecom. “By dialling a certain number any subscriber would be able to listen directly to our debates,” Sir Philip told reporters. He said that there was no technical reason why the debates should not one day be open to subscribers round the world. He said that a resolution of the whole House of Commons would be necessary to approve the dial-a-debate service, but the service would take only three months to establish. Some Commons debates are already broadcast on radio, but these tend to be on the most hotly debated issues of the day and are often inaudible behind jeers and outbursts from rival speakers, their supporters, and their hecklers.