WORLD IN ACTION TELEVISION PROGRAMME

That this House regrets that the World in Action programme on 2nd March made allegations against the Right honourable Member for Blackpool South and the honourable Member for South Ribble, in spite of the fact that those who made the programme were aware of the following facts, amongst others, about which the programme was wholly misleading (a) that Mr Michael Murrin had commenced his investigation of Mr Owen Oyston's affairs in 1982 as Chairman of the Preston Ratepayers' Association and before he knew either the Right honourable or honourable Member, (b) that the investigation was at all times that of Mr Murrin who approached the honourable Member for South Ribble for help as his constituency MP and (c) that the honourable Member for Workington, a Labour Member, asked a question about Mr Oyston's company, Official Report, 13th July 1988, column 197w, and tabled a Motion about it on 6th July 1988, thus making clear that Mr Oyston's affairs were of interest on both sides of the House; and calls on those responsible for the World in Action programme to apologise and to improve their ethical standards in future.