§ 19. Commander Sir Archibald Southbyasked the Minister of Information whether his attention has been called to the protests which have been made at the methods employed by the British Broadcasting Corporation in giving their account of the Battle of Narvik in a broadcast on Whit Monday when impersonations of both living and dead persons were given over the air; whether he is aware that such impersonations of those who have been killed cause great pain to their relatives; and whether he will take steps to prevent the recurrence of similar action in the future?
Mr. CooperThe answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The British Broadcasting Corporation deeply regret any pain should have been caused by this production, the only object of which was to attempt to give a dramatic account of an heroic event. In future the greatest care will be taken 529 to avoid anything that could possibly distress the relatives of the fallen.
§ Sir A. SouthbyWill the right hon. Gentleman see that on no future occasion will broadcasts of this unpardonably bad taste be allowed?