§ 76. Colonel Gomme-Duncanasked the Assistant Postmaster-General, as representing the Ministry of Information, if he will now give the amount spent by the B.B.C. in Scotland on broadcasting in 1945.
§ Mr. BurkeThe present annual authorised rate of expenditure on salaries and upkeep of premises, and for artistes and speakers in Scotland taking part in the Scottish Home Service is £ 246,337. Figures of actual expenditure for 1945 under these heads are not available. Expenditure in other categories is not separately recorded. This figure represents only a fraction of the expenditure on programme services available to listeners in Scotland.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanDoes not the hon. Gentleman think it rather extraordinary that the amount which has been expended cannot be definitely stated? As I said on 19th February, surely there must be receipts for what has been paid out in Scotland? That is what I am trying to get at.
§ Mr. BurkeThis is the amount to be spent on establishments and things of that kind which we can record. The actual amount of Scottish broadcasting is obviously part of the general national service.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanDoes the hon. Gentleman realise the point I am trying to get at, which is, what was actually spent in broadcasting in Scotland, not what the whole of broadcasting in Scotland costs?