§ 36. Mr. Robert Gibsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information on what representations the British Broadcasting Corporation altered the mid-day bulletin from noon to 1 p.m.; whether he is aware that 1 p.m. is quite as unsuitable as noon for millions of workers in factories, as at 1 p.m. they are just commencing their work; and whether he will represent to the British Broadcasting Corporation that 12.30 p.m. would be more suitable for these workers and add materially to the efficiency of the British Broadcasting Corporation's service?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information (Sir Edward Grigg)As I informed the hon. Member on l0th October last, the B.B.C. altered the time of the mid-day bulletin from noon to 1 p.m. after making very full inquiries as to the time which would be most generally convenient to the public. The result showed clearly that for the adult working population as a whole 1 p.m. was a better listening time than 12.30 p.m.
§ Mr. GibsonIs not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the facts contained in the question are correct, and will he represent to the B.B.C. that it is much easier for them to alter their programme than for owners and managers of factories to alter their times of work?
§ Sir E. GriggThe B.B.C. conducted the most careful inquiries into this, and the result showed that while 1 p.m. was inconvenient to a large number of workers, 12.30 p.m. would be inconvenient to a much larger number, and it was found that 1 p.m. was, on the whole, much more convenient.