HC Deb 10 December 1947 vol 445 cc995-6
35. Mr. Dodds-Parker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present rate of the Treasury grant made in respect of the European Service of the B.B.C.; and to what extent his Department is responsible for control of the policy of, and expenditure on, this Service.

Mr. McNeil

As the answer is necessarily a long one, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Major Tufton Beamish

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that there is no intention of cutting down the already inadequate Treasury grant? May I have an answer? May I ask the Minister, then, whether His Majesty's Government fully appreciate the immense value of the European Service of the B.B.C.?

Mr. McNeil

I am very glad to answer the second question, because it concerns my Department. We are keenly aware of the work which has been done by this service, and of its importance to the Government and to the country.

Following is the answer:

The Treasury Grant-in-Aid, which covers the expenses of the European Service of the B.B.C., is made in respect of the Overseas Services of the B.B.C. as a whole. It is at present at the annual rate of £4,400,000. Of this approximately £400,000 represents expenditure on the European Service. The responsibilities of the Foreign Office and the Corporation, respectively, for the policy of the Overseas Services are laid down in paragraph 5 of Clause 4 of the B.B.C. Licence and Agreement of 29th November, 1946 (Cmd. 6975), and paragraph 8 of Appendix 1 of the Seventh Report from the Select Committee on Estimates, 1946–47. The responsibility of the Foreign Office in respect of expenditure is laid down in paragraph 9 of Appendix 1 of the Seventh Report from the Select Committee on Estimates.