§ 17. Sir C. CAYZER(for Rear-Admiral BEAMISH) asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in view of the fact that the cost of a Colonial broadcasting service is estimated to be not more than £22,000 per annum for the first five years of operation, he has taken any steps to ensure that the necessary funds shall be forthcoming either from the Treasury or the Colonies; and what has been the result of such action?
§ Dr. SHIELSI regret that in the present state of the national finances both here and in the Colonies and Protectorates there is no prospect of the cost of this service being met from public 1490 funds. The Colonial and Protectorate Governments are prepared to pay over for this purpose the greater part of any funds they might raise by way of licence fees, but the amount likely so to be obtained at any rate in the first instance is far short of the amount required to finance the service.