HC Deb 13 May 1953 vol 515 cc1223-5
10. Mr. Fell

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what foreign broadcasts are given by the British Broadcasting Corporation, the country or area for which each service is intended, and the daily duration of each service.

Mr. Gammans

I would refer my hon. Friend to the information given in Appendix VII of the B.B.C.'s Annual Report and Accounts for 1951–52 (Cmd. 8660) on pages 115 and 116. The information there given will, I hope, serve my hon. Friend's purpose. There has been little change since the Report was published.

Captain Orr

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is still a wavelength allocated for broadcasts to Northern France, which seems quite useless when we in Northern Ireland share a wavelength with the north-east of England?

Mr. Gammans

I think that goes outside the original Question.

12. Mr. Fell

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what broadcasts the British Broadcasting Corporation makes for our Forces overseas; and what is the approximate locality for which each service is intended.

Mr. Gammans

Since the information is lengthy, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Fell

Can my hon. Friend tell me whether there is a service provided for the Forces in Korea in this lengthy list?

Mr. Gammans

Yes, Sir. The question of the number of hours of service to each place rests with the War Office or with the Service Department concerned. But in the case of Korea I understand there is a service every day of 4¾ hours.

Following is the information:

The B.B.C. inform me that four regular programmes are included in the General Overseas Service specifically for the benefit of listeners in British Forces overseas. They are as follows: The Forces' Show" (1 hour); On Sundays and Tuesdays for Forces in all main areas. Forces Favourites" (½ hour); Tuesdays and Saturdays, primarily for Forces in the Far East. Sporting Record" (¼ hour); Thursdays, primarily for Forces in the Far East. Sports Review" (¼ hour); Mondays, primarily for Forces in the Far East.

Apart from the above, numerous other programmes of news, information and entertainment are included in the General Overseas Service with the Forces audience closely in mind. Such programmes are known to be heard by listeners in the Forces overseas but they are included in the service for the benefit of listeners generally and not specifically for listeners in the Forces.

There are two major weekly items at present broadcast in the Light Programme primarily for listeners in the Forces in Germany. They are as follows: Family Favourites" (1 hour or 1¼ hours); On Sundays. This programme provides a two-way traffic of tunes and messages played at the request of Forces listeners in Germany and civilian listeners at home. It is relayed to Germany by the British Forces Network. Forces All-Star Bill" alternating with "The Forces Show" (each 1 hour); On Tuesday evenings. These are major variety programmes intended for listeners, especially Forces listeners, in the U.K. and reaching the British Army of the Rhine through the British Forces Network. Numerous other items in the Light Programme are relayed for Forces listeners by the British Forces Network in Germany.