HC Deb 22 February 1937 vol 320 cc1634-7
34. Vice-Admiral Taylor

asked the Postmaster-General when he last exercised his powers under Sub-section (3) of Clause 4 of the Licence and Agreement between His Majesty's Postmaster-General and the British Broadcasting Corporation?

Sir W. Womersley

The sub-Clause in question empowers the Postmaster-General to issue a "Notice" requiring the Corporation to refrain from sending any specified broadcast matter. It may be drawn in general terms or may be related to a particular subject. A "Notice" of the former type has been issued desiring the Corporation to abstain from broadcasting any expression of its own opinion in regard to matters of public policy, etc. No "Notice" of the latter type has been issued.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

Prevention being better than cure, will the Postmaster-General now exercise his powers under this Clause and prevent the broadcasting of any subject-matter which is subversive to the British Constitution and British interests?

Sir W. Womersley

My right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General has at all times exercised the powers conferred upon him by this House and cannot go beyond those powers.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

I understood the hon. Gentleman to say that under this Clause the Postmaster-General had power to do what I asked.

35. Sir A. Knox

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will ask the British Broadcasting Corporation to supply to the House of Commons Library verbatim copies of all broadcasts of a political or controversial nature?

Sir W. Womersley

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave on 17th February to my hon. and learned Friend, the Member for East Leicester (Mr. Lyons).

Mr. Thurtle

Cannot the hon. Gentleman do something to soothe the jagged nerves of his supporters?

36. Sir A. Knox

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will obtain from the British Broadcasting Corporation a list of the members of the Central Council for School Broadcasting appointed by the Corporation under paragraph 9 of the Charter of the British Broadcasting Corporation?

Sir W. Womersley

As requested by my hon. and gallant Friend, I have obtained from the British Broadcasting Corporation a list of the members of the Central Council for School Broadcasting. As this list contains over 50 names, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

Is it not on account of the fact that there are 50 names that so much matter gets through which it were better should not get through?

Sir W. Womersley

I was asked whether I would supply these names.

Following is the list:

Central Council for School Broadcasting.

Chairman: W. W. Vaughan, M.V.O., D.Litt.

Vice-Chairman: Sir Henry Richards, C.B.

Representative Members.

Board of Education (3): Miss D. M. Hammonds, H.M.I.; G. T. Hankin, H.M.I.; W. P. Wheldon, LL.B., D.S.O.

Scottish Education Department: J. W. Peck, C.B., F.R.S.E.

Ministry of Education for Northern Ireland: A. N. Bonaparte Wyse, C.B.E.

Association of Education Committees: Percival Sharp, LL.D., B.Sc.

Association of Directors and Secretaries for Education (2): A. L. Binns, M.C., B.Sc.; F. Herbert Toyne.

County Councils Association: F. Salter Davies, C.B.E.

Association of Municipal Corporations: F. P. Armitage, C.B.E.

London County Council: John Brown, M.B.E., M.C.

Association of Directors of Education in Scotland: J. Coutts Morrison.

Association of Councils of Counties and Cities in Scotland: Sir Charles Cleland, K.B.E., M.V.O., D.L., LL.D., F.E.I.S.

Association of County Councils in Scotland. (Representatives not yet appointed.)

Federation of Education Committees (Wales and Monmouth): T. J. Rees.

National Union of Teachers (4): H. H. Cartwright; W. W. Hill, B.Sc.; W. Lloyd Pierce; Mrs. E. V. Parker.

Joint Committee of the Four Secondary Associations (3): Incorporated Association of Headmasters, Headmistresses, Assistant Masters, Assistant Mistresses: A. Hay; H. Hugh Jones; Miss D. W. Wright.

Joint Committee of the Three Technical and Art Associations: Association of Teachers in Technical Institutes, Associations of Principals in Technical Institutes, National Society of Art Masters: J. Wickham Murray.

Independent Schools Association: S. Maxwell, LL.B.

Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools: Bernard Rendall.

Educational Institute of Scotland: Harry Blackwood, F.E.I.S.

Training College Association: Miss H. J. Hartle.

Council of Principals of Training Colleges. (Representative not yet appointed.)

Scottish Council for School Broadcasting: Chairman, Sir Charles Cleland, K.B.E., M.V.O., LL.D. Chairman of Scottish Executive, G. A. Burnett, B.Sc.

Nominated Members.

W. W. Vaughan, M.V.O., D.Litt.

Sir Henry Richards, C.B.

Secretary: A. C. Cameron, M.C.

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