HC Deb 28 March 1960 vol 620 cc921-2
1. Mr. Mayhew

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of the overall cost of the overseas information services was attributable to the British Broadcasting Corporation's external services in 1957, 1958, and 1959, respectively.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Dr. Charles Hill)

Figures are available for financial years only. They are: 1957–58, 439 per cent.; 1958–59. 41.9 per cent.; 1959–60, 390 per cent.

Mr. Mayhew

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Communist countries increased their external broadcasting by 15 per cent. last year, at a time when the B.B.C, owing to rising costs and the right hon. Gentleman's allocation, were compelled to cut theirs? What possible sense can there be in this? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that the new suggested budget for the B.B.C. is quite inadequate to meet the needs and the opportunities?

Dr. Hill

In this form it suggests a reduction. In fact, the allocation for the B.B.C. has increased during the three-year period. The fall in percentage is due to the very substantial increase in the provision for the British Council, for the teaching of English, libraries and the like, and the improvement in official information services, particularly in the Commonwealth.

2. Mr. Lipton

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why English broadcasts in the European Information Services of the British Broadcasting Corporation are being cut; and what savings will be made as a result.

Dr. Hill

To switch £2,000 to a more useful purpose.

Mr. Lipton

Is this not a miserable and foolish economy? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware, for example, that the very useful half-hour programme broadcast at 7 o'clock every morning for English-speaking listeners is being cut in the next week or two? What is the point of cutting a valuable programme like that, which is doing a lot of good, especially in view of the extension of foreign broadcasting by Russia, China and many other countries?

Dr. Hill

What has been done is to cut the repeat of a programme which is being given an hour earlier, there being given at the time of the repeat another programme in English of a news commentary character, in the General Overseas Service.

Mr. Mayhew

When Britain can do this overseas broadcasting better than any other country in the world, why do we cut it down in this way instead of expanding it?

Dr. Hill

If we are to use our resources to the full, we must switch them from time to time. In the case of European broadcasting, six-sevenths of it is in the language of the country of reception. That is not being touched. What is being saved here is a sum of £2,000 on a programme which, in fact, has its counterpart at the same time in another English programme.