HC Deb 11 April 1951 vol 486 cc991-3
1. Mr. Henderson Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will reconsider his decision to reduce his financial support of the British Broadcasting Corporation's overseas services, in view of the major part which the voice of Britain plays in expounding the foreign policy of Great Britain to foreign countries, especially those under the domination of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

13. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the United States and Soviet decision to increase their foreign broadcasting, he will reconsider the decision to cut down support for British broadcasting overseas.

18. Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the need to present Britain's point of view adequately abroad, he will reconsider the decision to reduce the grant to the British Broadcasting Corporation for overseas services.

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Herbert Morrison)

It has been decided to recommend that increased provision should be made for the B.B.C.'s overseas services in order to prevent the loss by the Corporation of the channel-hours now in use for broadcasting to Europe. The amount required in addition to the figure of £4,650,000 which I mentioned in the House on 4th April is estimated at about £100,000, and it is proposed in due course to present the necessary Supplementary Estimate to the House.

Mr. Stewart

Since it is apparent from that answer that the right hon. Gentleman intends to make substantial cuts in this vital national defence service is it not essential that the House should be informed without further delay exactly where, how, and when those cuts are to be effected?

Mr. Morrison

The House must face the fact that we are to spend more on this service in the present financial year than we did in the last. We had a Budget yesterday in which everybody was agreed that we must be economical in public expenditure. I think the House can take it that, broadly speaking, the cuts will not be material, but it will be the case, however, that in certain parts of the world which we have chosen with very great care—they will not be cut out altogether—the number of hours will be somewhat reduced. Europe we are maintaining, and there will be no cut whatever so far as the Soviet Union and countries in Eastern Europe are concerned.

Mr. R. A. Butler

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his original answer will give great satisfaction to all hon. Members of the House because of the receptiveness he has shown to the feeling exhibited on this matter?

Mr. Morrison

I am much obliged. I always try to live happily with the House of Commons.

Mr. Wyatt

While thanking my right hon. Friend for responding to representations from this side of the House, will he bear in mind that the only way in which the Chinese people, for example, could be told of his remarks about China the other day, was by the overseas services of the B.B.C., and that those services need strengthening, not merely having their cuts restored?

Mr. Morrison

I appreciate that such friendly pressure as did come was from this side of the House. [Laughter.] Well, that is my impression. My hon. Friend need not be apprehensive on the point he has raised.

Mr. Grimond

Does the right hon. Gentleman's statement mean that the wavelengths previously employed on these services will now be fully used, and that there is no danger of our losing time on any of these wavelengths?

Mr. Morrison

There is a technical difference between wavelengths and channels, about which I hope nobody will cross-examine me. It is inevitable that some hours will be lost, but we are trying to keep the channels open so that as far as possible we lose touch with no part of the world.

4. Brigadier Rayner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will say to which countries British Broadcasting Corporation's foreign broadcasts are now to be continued.

Mr. H. Morrison

The B.B.C. will continue to broadcast to the same foreign countries as at present, although for less time in some cases.

8. Brigadier Medlicott

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has yet made any progress in his discussions with the other Powers concerned which will result in more wavelengths being made available for the overseas and foreign broadcasts of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Mr. H. Morrison

I regret that the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary to a supplementary question on this subject on 21st February should have given the impression that discussions on this matter were taking place with other Powers. This is not so. I have been discussing with my colleagues ways and means of securing an improved B.B.C. service to Germany and am hopeful that it will be possible to make more satisfactory arrangements.