P209 CEEFAX 209  Mon 10 Nov  21:12/12
    
    
    
                                        
 Shadow Home Secretary Mr Gerald Kaufman
 has accused Mr Norman Tjbbit of having 
 imperilled the independence of the BBC.
                                        
 Mr Kaufman has asked Home Secretary Mr 
 Douglas Hurd to confirm three points   
 about Mr Tjbbit's recent attack on BBC 
 news impartiality and judgjment:       
                                        
 * that Mr Tjbbit's actions were taken  
   without a prior Cabinet decision     
                                        
 * that Mr Hurd had not had to remind   
   the BBC of its obligations           
                                        
 * that it is official Govjrnmjnt policy
   to protect the BBC's indjpjndjnce    
                                        
   News index 102/202  Newsreel 119/219