HC Deb 09 February 1937 vol 320 cc220-1
64. Captain Ramsay

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the British Broadcasting Corporation have persistently shown bias in their announcements regarding the situation in Spain; and will he remind the directorate of that body that their function is to give the public accurate and impartial information, avoiding propaganda for one side or the other?

Sir W. Womersley

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answers given to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for East Leicester (Mr. Lyons) on 25th January and my hon. Friends the Members for Cleveland (Commander Bower) and for Middleton and Prestwich (Sir N. Stewart Sandeman) on 8th February.

Captain Ramsay

Is it not a fact that the crux of the whole matter is the selection, the arrangement and the delivery of these news items that are handed to the British Broadcasting Corporation, and will my hon. Friend give this subject his close attention in order to find out whether there are not real reasons for the grave dissatisfaction which is common to the whole country on this matter?

Sir W. Womersley

The Postmaster-General and myself are giving close attention to all representations that are made my hon. Members, and we are conveying them to the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Mr. Thurtle

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that many of us are of the opinion that the British Broadcasting Corporation shows too much partiality towards Franco?

Sir W. Womersley

I am well aware that there are differences of opinion with regard to where bias begins and where bias ends.