HC Deb 09 February 1931 vol 248 cc35-6
62. Mr. MARLEY

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in granting a subsidy to the Govent Garden Opera Syndicate, he will lay down as a condition that all supplies, whether for hire or purchase, of equipment and requisites in connection with the operas run under the control of the syndicate shall be subject to public tender?

Mr. LEES-SMITH

I do not think it necessary to impose the condition suggested by the hon. Member.

Mr. MARLEY

Will not my hon. Friend see, if these people are getting a very large subsidy, that there shall be public tender for all supplies?

Mr. LEES-SMITH

The hon. Member will see that this proposal is a public tender for everything, including the rooms and the singers. The system we have adopted is that the economical administration of this company is to be generally under the control of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and that is better than a series of minute Regulations.

Sir WILLIAM MITCHELL-THOMSON

When shall we have the White Paper dealing with this contract?

Mr. LEES-SMITH

The White Paper will include certain other matters as well as this agreement, and I cannot at the present moment say when those other matters will be settled.

Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSON

Will the hon. Gentleman see that we have the contract in sufficient time for the Debate, and when is the Debate likely to take place?

Mr. A. M. SAMUEL

Are we to understand that the Estimate will come under the Post Office Vote?

Mr. BROCKWAY

Is the hon. Gentleman prepared to make it one of the conditions of this grant that a living wage should be paid to all grades of workers employed?

Mr. LEES-SMITH

I have made inquiries, and I am satisfied that that will be done.