§ 26. Mr. Swinglerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what quantities of dollars he has authorised to be spent by the programme contractors to the Independent Television Authority and by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the period since the authority was established; and the annual sums of dollar expenditure he is prepared to approve for the purchase of United States material for the Independent Television Authority and the British Broadcasting Corporation, respectively.
§ The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Sir Edward Boyle)The amount authorised for the B.B.C. and I.T.A. together since 1st July, 1954, is about £1⅓ million. No precise ceiling has been fixed, hut my right hon. Friend is watching the position.
§ Mr. SwinglerIn view of the latest trade figures and the dollar gap, is not this a rather large sum to pay out to get "Hopalong Cassidy"? Will not the Treasury pay greater attention to the fact that a very large proportion of recorded material for commercial T.V. is being bought from the United States, and is not this in fact a breach of the Television Act and a wastage of dollars?
§ Sir E. BoyleI cannot add to what I have said. Questions about the Television Act should be put to my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General.