Introduction
The pictures from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords are made available for broadcasters by the Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit.
There are rules laid down by Parliament for the broadcasting of proceedings in both Houses. These cover, for instance, the nature of shooting and editing. Broadcasters are allowed to use the pictures and sound under certain conditions including:
- no internal editing of speeches. When using use two sections of a speech, a definite break must be provided to make clear the two sections are not continuous
- no graphic enhancement or alteration of the pictures. For example one or a group of MPs must not be highlighted and the framing must not be changed
- no speeding up or slowing down of the pictures or sound.
If in doubt seek detailed guidance from the BBC's Political Programmes Unit at Millbank.
Parliamentary material can be used only in news and factual programmes or for educational purposes. No Parliamentary recording may be used in light entertainment, or fictional or drama programmes, or programmes of political satire. Parliamentary material may be used in the factual parts of magazine programmes but must always be kept separate from musical, fictional or humorous items.
Parliamentary committees can usually be broadcast even if they are sitting away from Westminster, but the broadcasters have to commission coverage in advance. Again BBC Political Programmes at Millbank can help.
The rules in full are outlined in the annexes on the following pages. These are taken from the First Report of Session 2002-03 ("The Rules Of Coverage") of the House of Commons Broadcasting Committee which is available online at http://www.parliament.the-stationeryoffice.co.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmbroad/786/786.pdf