International Fleet Review And The BBC

EDM number 445 in 2005-06, proposed by Nigel Evans on 28/06/2005.

That this House congratulates all those involved in the International Fleet Review to mark the Bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in the Solent on 28th June; notes the presence of 167 ships from 36 countries including the US, France, Spain, India, South Korea, Turkey and Japan; further notes the attendance of more than a quarter of a million spectators who crowded the shore to get a glimpse of this historic event, involving the fly-past of maritime aircraft including the Red Arrows display team, and also to witness the mock Napoleonic battle which took place later in the day; notes with some disappointment that the BBC gave only scant live coverage of this historic event with a hastily arranged half-hour programme which went out before the full inspection took place; further notes that terrestrial viewers were denied watching the entire incredible event live on the BBC, and that no mention was given of this half-hour programme in the Radio Times or newspaper TV schedules; calls on the BBC to undertake an urgent review of its broadcasting policy on major historical events such as the Fleet Review; and calls on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee when appointed to investigate the public service obligation of the BBC.

This motion has been signed by a total of 38 MPs.