§ 46. Mr. DORANasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the necessity for economy in National expenditure, he is prepared to take steps to adopt the proposal made in the May Report, 1931, and reduce the present amount paid to the British Broadcasting Corporation out of receipts from wireless licences?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir Kingsley Wood)The position as between the Exchequer and the British Broadcasting Corporation was duly reviewed at 751 the time in the light of the recommendations of the Committee on National Expenditure. As shown in the Post Office Estimates, the Corporation, in view of the national emergency, agreed to forgo by way of contribution to the Exchequer in the present financial year the sum of £150,000. The matter will again be the subject of consideration as regards the next financial year. The Corporation have already agreed to the withdrawal of the opera subsidy as from the end of 1932, and they have also undertaken for the present the whole cost of the Empire broadcasting service.
§ Mr. DORANIs the Postmaster-General aware that the May Committee recommended that £900,000 should be the limit of expenditure by the British Broadcasting Corporation, and that that has been exceeded to the tune of £400,000—
§ Mr. SPEAKERQuestion Time is not the time for making speeches.