§ 17. Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on how many occasions in 1955 the European services of the British Broadcasting 2341 Corporation carried talks about the proceedings, procedure and achievements of the Commonwealth of Nations, and in how many languages; and what proportion of the total number of topical talks that represents.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerI am informed that in 1955 the European services of the British Broadcasting Corporation carried over 3,000 talks on Commonwealth affairs. This figure represents an average of about one-eighth of the total number of talks carried on these services, and does not include incidental references.
§ Mr. MaitlandWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he would not agree that it is most important that we should project the Commonwealth as a living and expanding reality to those countries which live on our periphery? Will my hon. Friend do all he can to encourage the B.B.C. to project the Commonwealth as a living reality?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerCertainly, Sir.