39. Mr. HOPKIN MORRISasked the Postmaster-General, in view of the fact that the continuance of the opera subsidy is dependent on the British Broadcasting Corporation having paid to the Covent Garden Syndicate £25,000 in 1931, what sums have been so paid over this year, with the dates of payment and the amounts?
§ Sir K. WOODThe sum of £25,000 has been duly paid by the Corporation for the year 1931. £8,000 was paid on the 1st of January, £1,000 on the 1st of April, £5,500 on the 1st of July, and £10,500 on the 1st of October.
Mr. MORRISAre the payments by the British Broadcasting Corporation dependent on the receipts of the Covent Garden Syndicate reaching a certain minimum?
§ Sir K. WOODThat is a matter of the terms of the agreement, so that I must have notice of that question.
Mr. MORRISIs the right hon. Gentleman prepared to publish that agreement and to lay it on the Table of the House?
§ Sir K. WOODThe hon. Member must obviously put down on the Paper a question of that kind. He is merely asking for figures in the question which I have just answered.
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUELWill the payment appear under Sub-head P of the Post Office Accounts, so that we can debate it on the Post Office Estimates?
§ Sir K. WOODI have no doubt that the matter will be subject to debate, and I rather anticipate that it will be a matter for discussion when the Post Office Estimates are before the House, but I will look into the matter and communicate with my hon. Friend.