§ 75. Mr. Higgsasked the Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to prevent the British Broadcasting Corporation televising plays on Sundays, in view of the fact that the living theatre cannot perform plays in public on Sundays?
§ The Assistant Postmaster-General (Sir Walter Womersley)The compilation of programmes for both the television and sound broadcasting services is a responsibility of the governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and I do not see my way to interfere with their discretion in regard to the inclusion of plays in television programmes on Sundays.
§ Mr. HiggsDoes the Minister consider that the living theatre is being justly 1459 treated by permitting those broadcasts on Sunday when the same performances would not be allowed for the public to attend?
§ Mr. MabaneIs the Minister aware that this form of publicity would be a great hardship to the living theatre and would remove from the artists a very valuable additional source of income?
§ Sir W. WomersleyMy information is that the British Broadcasting Corporation are acting within their legal rights. I do not intend now to enter into a discussion on the merits or demerits of the Lord's Day Observance Act.