35. Sir N. Stewart Sandemanasked the Postmaster-General how many persons, other than artistes, employed by the British Broadcasting Corporation are naturalised British subjects.
Major TyronI am informed by the British Broadcasting Corporation that to the best of their knowledge only four of the staff, other than artists, employed by them are naturalised British subjects.
§ 37. Sir Hugh O'Neillasked the Postmaster-General whether he has been able to make any arrangements with the British Broadcasting Corporation whereby copies of broadcasts can be placed in the Library of the House of Commons, or otherwise made available to Members of Parliament?
§ Major TryonI have discussed this matter with the British Broadcasting Corporation, and I am glad to say that the corporation has expressed willingness to furnish any hon. Member, on request by him in writing, with a copy of any individual broadcast in which he is specially interested. It seems to me that this arrangement should meet the needs of the case, and I hope that hon. Members will not take undue advantage of the special arrangements which the Corporation is making experimentally for their convenience.
§ Mr. LyonsWill the statement supplied by the British Broadcasting Corporation be an actual verbatim copy of the broadcast delivered, and not a precis or summary?
§ Major TryonCertainly, an exact reproduction of what is said.
§ Mr. CrossleyWhat is there unreasonable in the proposal that there should be a copy of each broadcast in the Library of the House of Commons?
§ Major TryonI was not discussing that; it is a matter for the Chair; but I think that, from the point of view of the convenience of the individual Member, it will be much more convenient to him to have a copy of his own.
Viscountess AstorDoes the Postmaster-General think it would be possible to have a room in the House of Commons where Members could go and listen to broadcasts?
Sir N. Stewart SandemanIf Members of Parliament want copies of these documents, why should they not have them?
§ Major TryonI have just said that I have arranged that they will be able to have copies if they apply for them.
§ Sir A. KnoxWould it not be necessary for a Member to wait for a complaint before he asked for a copy; and would it not be better if he could check the copy beforehand?
§ Major TryonI think that, if Members were asked to read all the broadcasts delivered, they would find it a formidable task.
§ Mr. ThurtleWill the Postmaster-General arrange for the British Broadcasting Corporation to send a copy of each broadcast to the members of the diehard group as a whole?