HC Deb 30 May 1960 vol 624 c979
17. Mr. Mayhew

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the division of function between the sound transcription service of the British Broadcasting Corporation and the sound tape service of the Central Office of Information.

Mr. R. Allan

I have been asked to reply.

The sound transcription service of the British Broadcasting Corporation consists normally of records on disk or tape of live B.B.C. programmes which are made available to broadcasting organisations overseas on payment. The sound tape service of the Central Office of Information consists of original tape recordings specially made on behalf of the Overseas Departments for distribution, through the official information services overseas, to local broadcasting stations.

Mr. Mayhew

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that there is no danger of duplication here, or is it intended that these two publicly financed bodies should compete in this field?

Mr. Allan

Anticipating that question from the hon. Gentleman, I looked into it with some care. There are adequate safeguards against overlapping, and I do not think that they compote.

Mr. W. Hamilton

Will the hon. Gentleman enlarge on that reply? What is the exact machinery for preventing any such duplication?

Mr. Allan

The C.O.I. informs the B.B.C. of all its output, item by item, immediately it is undertaken. There are also very close and friendly contacts between the two bodies at departmental level.