BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION. (Hansard, 1 March 1937)

§ 28. Mr. Day
asked the Postmaster-General what is the number of wireless receiving licences issued at the last convenient date; and, in view of the large number of cripples and people of small means who apply for wireless licences, will he consider whether these licences, in special circumstances, could be issued half-yearly or, alternatively, by giving facilities for needy people to pay for the same by two half-yearly instalments?

§ The Postmaster - General (Major Tryon)
The number of wireless receiving licences in force on 31st January last was 8,071,464. The work of securing the annual renewal of this large number of licences is very heavy; and it is essential that the licensing machinery should be kept as simple as possible. The adoption of a system of half-yearly payments could hardly be restricted to needy persons, and would practically double the work of collection. This would involve a large amount of additional expense which would, it is considered, be out of proportion to the advantage derived.

§ Mr. Day
Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider the application of such an arrangement to those who are not able to find the full yearly licence in advance?

§ 29. Sir A. Knox
asked the Postmaster-General whether there is any practical difficulty in furnishing to the House of Commons Library daily verbatim reports of broadcasts, since Members of Parliament are unable, through lack of time, to check the complaints of constituents either by listening-in or by visiting the British Broadcasting Corporation?

§ Major Tryon
The number of words broadcast weekly is substantially in excess of 400,000, and over 1,300 foolscap pages would be required for their reproduction. The task of compilation would involve a great amount of labour and for that reason, apart from 15 any other, it does not seem to me reasonable to call upon the British Broadcasting Corporation to undertake it.

§ Sir A. Knox
Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that millions of people are reached by these broadcasts every day who do not trouble to read the most eloquent speeches made in this House, and is it not the duty of Members of Parliament to keep in touch with these broadcasts and see that they are run on proper lines?

§ Major Tryon
The difficulty is not with the people who hear the broadcasts, but the people who hear unfair accounts of them.

Mr. Alexander
Will the right hon. Gentleman consider arranging with the First Commissioner of Works to have at least one room in the House where we could listen to the broadcasts?

§ Major Tryon
That is not for me to decide, but I will consider the right hon. Gentleman's suggestion.

§ Mr. Petherick
Is it not possible at least to place in the Library reports of the news as sent out by the British Broadcasting Corporation, because that would not involve nearly 400,000 words?

Sir N. Stewart Sandeman
Surely if we get wrong accounts of what is broadcast, why should we not have the right account if we wish it to be sent here, no matter the number of words? A great many of us wish it.

§ Sir A. Knox
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.