27. Mr. Hely-Hutchinson askedthe Minister of Information whether he is aware of the injury to our united war effort arising out of the propagation on the British Broadcasting Corporation, in war-time, of highly controversial political doctrines which many men and women are unwilling to receive; whether he is aware of the growing misuse for this purpose of the religious talks, preceding the 8 a.m. news, by anonymous speakers claiming the support of high authority in the churches for their views; and whether he will take power to control this abuse of public confidence?
Mr. CooperIt is the policy of the B.B.C. to permit a fair balance in the free expression of all opinions except those which are opposed to the national war effort. Steps have recently been taken to ensure that religious talks receive the same general scrutiny as is applied to other broadcasts.
§ Mr. Hely-HutchinsonWill the Minister, in the interest of fixing responsibility, take powers to prevent anonymity in broadcasts?
Mr. CooperThat is another question. On certain occasions it might be desirable that a speaker should be known, and in others it might be desirable that he should not be known, but I will look into the matter.
§ Mr. MaxtonWill the Minister say what are the qualifications of the gentlemen who go over the religious broadcasts?
Mr. CooperThe people looking over them have hitherto been looking over other broadcasts. It is not considered 570 desirable that politics should enter into religious broadcasts, and the point of the supervision is to ensure that they should not.
§ Sir Herbert WilliamsIs my right hon. Friend aware that two of these broadcasts have advocated two political schemes which have been condemned by annual meetings of the British Labour party?
§ Mr. SilvermanWill the Minister assure the House that the B.B.C. will do nothing to frustrate the general desire in this country that the world after the war shall not return to the parlous state that it was in before?