§ 14. Mr. Dempseyasked the Postmaster-General if he will exercise his powers under Section 15 (1) of the Licence and Agreement of the British Broadcasting Corporation to amend the prescribed hours of Home sound broadcasting, so that the British Broadcasting Corporation could broadcast all-night programmes of music for the benefit of sick and elderly people.
§ Mr. BevinsThe B.B.C. has never sought a prescription of this kind. It has said, however, that it would wish to extend the Light Programme up to 2 a.m. in due course, and, as paragraph 21 of the White Paper on Broadcasting says, extensions up to this hour will be authorised. I think this is as far as we should go at present.
§ Mr. DempseyIs the Minister aware that for the elderly, the sick, the disabled and the injured these hours can be hours of loneliness and, in some circumstances, fear? Would it not be worth while having some experiment into the possibility or advisability of providing some form of light music as solace during this period?
§ Mr. BevinsI confess that I am not quite sure what the hon. Gentleman has in mind, but I find it rather surprising that the hon. Gentleman or anybody else should think that sick and elderly people want to listen to light music throughout the night.
§ Mr. DempseyIs the Postmaster-General aware that there is quite a demand for this from my part of the country? Representations have been made to me to that effect. I am surprised that he is out of touch with the feelings of some sections of the community. I ask him to reconsider the matter and gain some information about it. Some research should be conducted into the matter.
§ Mr. LagdenDoes my right hon. Friend think that there is any connection between this Question concerning sick and elderly people and the length of all-night sittings?