HC Deb 15 June 1932 vol 267 cc387-8
28. Mr. COCKS

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the interests of public economy, he will take steps to cancel the opera subsidy?

The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Graham White)

As my right hon. Friend informed my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester on the 11th of April last, the agreement between the Postmaster-General and the British Broadcasting Corporation, which provides for the payment of the opera subsidy, and which was laid before Parliament in June, 1931, was for a term of years as therein provided.

Captain HAROLD BALF0UR

If the Government in the interests of economy find it necessary to break agreements with State servants, will they not find it necessary in the interests of economy to break this agreement?

Mr. MACQUISTEN

Would it not be far better to spend this money on allotments for the unemployed?

Mr. HOPKIN MORRIS

Does the Postmaster-General contemplate putting into operation the recommendation of the May Committee that the Postmaster-General should control the capital expenditure of the British Broadcasting Corporation?

Mr. WHITE

I should like to have notice of that question.