§ 4. Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the desirability of improving the standard of broadcasting to the Colonial Empire and of making some arrangements to obtain financial support for such service from the Colonies which benefit; and whether he will call for observations on this matter from the various Colonial Governments?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe Colonial Office is in constant touch with the British Broadcasting Corporation as well as with Colonial Governments with a view to securing the greatest efficiency in the Empire Broadcasting Service. I will not lose sight of the possibility that Colonial Governments might be asked to consider some form of contribution to the cost of the service, where their finances permit. I am sending my hon. Friend copies of two circular despatches which have been issued with regard to the scheme.
§ Captain MACDONALDIs my right hon. Friend aware that in some parts of the Colonial Empire a great deal of the programmes that are broadcast is from Germany and is of a propaganda nature? Will he take steps to see that an adequate programme is provided from Imperial sources and that this other source of broadcasting is curtailed as much as possible?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIt is impossible to prevent people who have listening-in machines from receiving anything that may happen to go on the ether, The whole object of the broadcasting scheme of the British Broadcasting Corporation for the whole Empire is that there should be an effective British programme available for the whole Empire, and that is being done, I think, with great success.
§ Mr. KIRKPATRICKWill my right hon. Friend co-operate with the Foreign Secretary on the question of broadcasting to the British communities in foreign countries?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am afraid that that is rather outside my province.