HC Deb 15 May 1962 vol 659 cc1131-2
18. Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation whether, in view of the importance of maintaining a climate of opinion in West Africa favourable to Great Britain, he will arrange for the construction of a booster radio station to enable British broadcasts to be heard in Nigeria and Ghana.

Mr. Vosper

The programme of new transmitters announced to the House on 23rd January should make it much easier for people to hear the B.B.C. in areas such as Ghana and Nigeria. Plans are now being worked out.

Mr. Fisher

I am glad to hear what my right hon. Friend says, because I am sure that he will agree that the B.B.C. broadcasts—for instance, those to Nigeria—are largely inaudible and that people therefore listen to musical programmes from Moscow and Peking which are rather cleverly interlaced with Communist propaganda. Since the East-West battle in Africa is really for men's minds, should not we, taking the subject more generally, spend much more money on our information services there if we wish to retain British and Western influence in the newly independent countries of the Commonwealth?

Mr. Vosper

I understand that the programmes in many parts of West Africa have been inaudible at times, and for that reason the Government decided to embark on this programme of new transmitters, one of which will be for West Africa. This policy decision has been made and the funds have been allocated. Technical experts are in West Africa at the moment making a survey.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Is it the case that British information services are at present concentrating more on countries such as Canada than on the newly independent members of the Commonwealth? Will the steps which my right hon. Friend has just announced do something to get the priorities into better order?

Mr. Vosper

If I understood my hon. Friend correctly, he said that the concentration was on the older members of the Commonwealth. In fact, the concentration is on the developing territories, and this programme of transmitters has been sited to deal with Africa and Asia in particular.

Mr. G. M. Thomson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the B.B.C. has been at a great disadvantage in West Africa because of poor reception and that there will be a general welcome for the decision which he has announced? Can he say that it will be hurried along as quickly as possible, and can he give us an estimate about how quickly these booster stations in the South Atlantic are likely to be put into operation?

Mr. Vosper

I should like to do that, but we are in the technical stage and I am at the mercy of technical experts. I will hurry them along as much as a layman can.

Mr. John Hall

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Members on both sides of the House have been urging a greater intensification of this kind of programme for many years and that matters are still going too slowly? There would be tremendous support on both sides of the House for a much greater expenditure of money on this type of service, not only to West Africa but to many other parts of the world as wall.

Mr. Vosper

I note what my hon. Friend says.

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