65. Sir N. Stewart Sandemanasked the Postmaster-General through what agencies the Spanish news broadcast in the 6 o'clock and 10 o'clock news bulletin is received; and whether he will give instructions that the source of the information should invariably be announced before any foreign news bulletin is read?
§ 67. Commander Bowerasked the Postmaster-General the sources from which the British Broadcasting Corporation obtains its news bulletins regarding the situation in Spain; whether he is satisfied that the foreign news broadcast by the corporation is accurate and impartial; and what organisation exists for securing this object?
§ The Postmaster-General (Major Tryon)I am informed by the corporation that it derives its Spanish news, as well as other foreign news included in its news bulletins, from the four leading agencies—Reuter, Press Association, Exchange Telegraph and Central News. The corporation is dependent on these agencies for the accuracy of the news which they supply, and is itself responsible for impartial presentation. On this latter point I would refer my hon. Friends to the answer given to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for East Leicester (Mr. Lyons) on 25th January.
Sir N. Stewart SandemanMight not the names of the sources of the news be announced before the news; because, after all, I think British people like the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and also feel that there is not so much in what is said as in the nasty way in which it is said?
§ Major TryonI assure my hon. Friend that I have myself constantly heard the sources of the news read out.
§ Commander BowerCould not the Postmaster-General cause an inquiry to be made into why it is that these news bulletins continually contain news of intervention on the part of Germany and Italy, and never contain any news whatever of what is well known to be the far greater intervention on the part of France?