§ 69. Captain BERKELEYasked the Postmaster-General whether wireless concerts broadcast from London have recently been instrumental in jamming the S.O.S. signals of a French cargo vessel that was subsequently lost in the Channel; whether any investigation of this has been made under his direction; and whether it is proposed, in view of recent developments in broadcasting, to insert in the Government contract with the British Broadcasting Company the proviso required by Order 72 of the Standing Orders of this House relative to public business?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON - EVANSThere is no record or recollection of any case of interference with S.O.S. signals by wireless broadcast programmes. If the hon. and gallant Member refers to the French vessel "Deputé Emile Driant," which was wrecked off the French coast on the 30th August, the enquiry made has shown that the first distress call was received at 4.54 a.m. and the last signals at 5.15 a.m., when the ship's apparatus 528 failed. No British broadcasting station was working at the time. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to Mr. Speaker's ruling of the 25th April last on this point.
§ Captain BERKELEYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that an interview with a French inventor was published in the London Press in which he stated that from his experimental station he was able to detect the wireless S.O.S. signals of the vessel being jammed by a concert being broadcasted from London, and with regard to the second part of the question, is he aware that the circumstances are now changed since constantly concerts from London are being broadcasted and received from here both in America and South Africa.
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSWith regard to the first part of the question, the information I have differs entirely from that which the hon. and gallant Gentleman now gives. The broadcasting concerts do not go on at 5.15 a.m. With regard to the second part of the question, I may refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to Mr. Speaker's ruling, which seems to me to apply as much to-day as on the day it was given.