69. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Postmaster-General whether the proposals of the British Broadcasting Corporation to 2118 form a comprehensive British Broadcasting Corporation union for all their workers has been submitted to him for approval?
§ The Assistant Postmaster-General (Sir Walter Womersley)I understand that the B.B.C. has recently circulated, for consideration by its staff, a scheme of staff representation, proposed by a committee consisting of Sir James Rae of the Treasury, Mr. J. W. Bowen, until recently General Secretary of the Union of Post Office Workers, and Mr. G. L. Darbyshire, Establishment Officer of the London Midland and Scottish Railway. As this is primarily a domestic matter, the proposals were not submitted for my approval. I trust that as a result of the impending consideration of the matter the points at issue will be satisfactorily settled.
Mr. De la BèreIs not my hon. Friend aware that if there were a liaison officer between the House of Commons and the British Broadcasting Corporation, this question would be quite unnecessary?
§ Sir W. WomersleyIf my hon. Friend the Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) were the liaison officer, we should perhaps get to know what happened on 7th May.
Dr. GuestWhy is it that these proposals were communicated to the Press before they were communicated to the members of the staff?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI am not aware that that has happened, but I will make inquiries from the British Broadcasting Corporation as to that matter. I can tell my hon. Friend, however, that these councils are to be of the Whitley type and that there is not to be a comprehensive British Broadcasting Corporation union so that what appeared in the. Press evidently was not correct.