§ 25. Mr. Doddsasked the Assistant Postmaster-General, in view of the necessity of making an early decision in respect of additional finance for the British Broadcasting Corporation to enable improvements to be made in its television service, what progress has been made in the consultations taking place with the Corporation; and when a decision on British Broadcasting Corporation finance is likely to be made known.
§ Mr. GammansThe whole question is being reviewed by the Government, but I regret that I am unable to say when a decision is likely to be reached.
§ Mr. DoddsAs the Chancellor of the Exchequer informed me that the hon. Gentleman would reply to this Question, will he deal with the point which asks what progress has been made in the consultations? Has any progress been made?
§ Mr. GammansA lot of progress has been made, but the consultations are still going on.
Mr. C. I. Orr-EwingWill my hon. Friend initiate conversations with the British Broadcasting Corporation to see whether the expansion cannot be financed by capital borrowing rather than by taking the money from licence revenue? Will he bear in mind that the Beveridge Committee recommended that this Cor- 930 poration should do the same as other corporations and borrow instead of financing from revenue?
§ Mr. GammansIt is true that the B.B.C. have financed capital development out of revenue. That, as well as other matters, will be considered in the discussions.
§ Mr. DoddsIn view of the urgency of this matter, cannot the hon. Gentleman give some idea whether it will be this year or next year when the consultations finish?
§ Mr. GammansI think I answered that question when I said that I hope that the deliberations will not take too long.