§ 44. Mr. DORANasked the Postmaster-General if he is in a position to state the cost to date of the Empire radio station at Daventry; the estimated annual upkeep; and whether any of the Dominions have yet undertaken to contribute towards the cost?
§ Sir E. BENNETTThe decision to establish an Empire radio station was taken by the British Broadcasting Corporation and announced by them in November, 1931. As my right hon. Friend has already stated, the corporation is for the present bearing the full cost. The responsibility for expenditure on individual broadcasting stations rests entirely with the corporation, and my right hon. Friend is not aware of the cost of the Empire station.
§ Sir E. BENNETTWhen the Colonies realise the benefits that will come to them from this system, one naturally hopes that arrangements will be made.
§ Mr. MAXTONDoes the Assistant Postmaster-General mean that the Postmaster-General does not know the cost of the new station at Daventry or is he saying that he knows but will not tell us?
§ Sir E. BENNETTI must ask the hon. Member to accept what I said on the subject. The corporation is for the present bearing the full cost, and my right hon. Friend is not aware of that cost.