HC Deb 20 June 1960 vol 625 cc2-3
1. Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is aware of the public concern caused by the reduction over the last several years of the output of the British Broadcasting Corporation overseas and European services; and what steps he intends to take to reverse this tendency.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Robert Allan)

I have been asked to reply.

Some concern has been expressed, but it is not justified by the facts. These show that, although the pattern of external broadcasting is, of course, varied from time to time, in each of the last two years the total output has increased and is now 5 per cent. more than in 1956.

Mr. Hamilton

I did not ask the question to which that purports to be an answer. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that between 1947 and 1959, according to Mr. Henry Klein, in his chairman's address to the annual council of the Association of Broadcasting Staff, there was a startling decrease of 24 per cent in the B.B.C. overseas and European services and a comparable increase on the Russian, Chinese and European satellite side of more than 500 per cent.? What steps are the Government taking to remedy this startling deficiency?

Mr. Allan

There is a steady increase in the external services. I, too, have seen what Mr. Klein said, but he admitted that from 1951 to 1959 expenditure on these services had gone up by 32 per cent.

Mr. Mayhew

Is the hon. Gentleman giving a fair picture when he says that there has been a steady expansion of these services? Taking the facts since the war, there has been a steady and marked decrease in the services of the B.B.C. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, owing to rising costs over which the B.B.C. has had no control, it has had to cut its services in the current year?

Mr. Allan

As far as I am aware, there has been a steady increase in the external services, both European and overseas. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] If, however, I am wrong about that, I will check with my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Hamilton

In view of the fact that the hon. Gentleman has given an extremely unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.