§ 47. Sir WALDRON SMITHERSasked the Prime Minister whether his attention 1268 has been called to a speech broadcast on 30th October, on the eve of the municipal elections, which, though intended to be non-party in character, was calculated to forward the interests of one political party; and will he give an early opportunity for this House to discuss the Motion standing on the Order Paper in the name of the hon. Member for South Nottingham relative to the British Broadcasting Corporation:
That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the powers, administration, finances and expenditure of the British Broadcasting Corporation.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe British Broadcasting Corporation inform me that the talk to which my hon. Friend refers was one of a series intended for secondary schools, and that its subject was the importance of municipal government. I regret that I can hold out no hope that time can be found for discussion of the Motion standing in the name of my hon. and learned Friend the Member for South Nottingham (Mr. Knight).
§ Sir W. SMITHERSMay I ask if the Prime Minister has had time to read that speech himself; and, further, in view of the deliberate political bias in that speech, will His Majesty's Government watch the activities of the British Broadcasting Corporation and take the necessary steps to prevent further political bias which seems unduly to favour one political form of opinion from occurring in the future?
§ Mr. KNIGHTArising out of the second part of the answer, may I ask whether the Prime Minister appreciates the public interest in this important service, and the general satisfaction that. would be afforded if it were known that early attention was to be given to its development?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes; we are watching developments very carefully.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the same opinion was held by another political party about the broadcast during the General Election of October, 1931?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat question was quite unnecessary.
§ Mr. WILMOTMay I ask whether the talk to which reference has been made was the talk which was booked by the 1269 British Broadcasting Corporation to be delivered by a Municipal Reform candidate for the borough council of Greenwich?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI really cannot, and I am not called upon, to go into details on the matter. I have seen the talk, and have my own opinion, and my reply is that the whole situation is being watched.
§ Mr. M. BEAUMONTIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter at the earliest possible opportunity.