§ 59. Mr. Parkerasked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that the British Broadcasting Corporation, on Shakespeare's birthday, St. George's Day, in its overseas service for Germans, put on a programme of Shakespeare's lyrics set to jazz and sung by a crooner; and whether he is satisfied that this kind of broadcast assists our propaganda efforts?
§ Mr. NicolsonShakespeare's birthday was marked in the B.B.C. German programmes by a special talk and by a commentary on the celebrations at Stratford-on-Avon. In the lighter part of the programme, which is specially designed to cater for those in Germany who appreciate jazz music which they cannot get on their own stations, some records were played from an English theatrical production which contained lyrics from Shakespeare's plays. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative.