§ 4. Mr. John Hallasked the Secretary of State for Technical Co-operation what progress has been made in the production and use of television films for teaching English overseas.
Mr. CarrThe B.B.C., with help from the British Council, has produced an elementary course of English by Television, in thirty-nine lessons, designed for general audiences. It has sold these lessons to a number of countries. The British Council and the B.B.C. have now agreed on the production of a further series of such lessons and of twelve teacher-training films. In addition, the Centre for Educational Television Overseas is in consultation with the British Council and the B.B.C. about the production of short teaching aid programmes mainly for use on television in underdeveloped countries.
§ Mr. HallWhile welcoming this evidence of progress in this form of teaching, can my right hon. Friend say in how many countries these films are now 170 being used and whether they have been welcomed?
Mr. CarrThe first films are mainly in use in European countries, but the later films which we are producing are more specially designed for under-developed countries. I am sorry that I cannot give the exact number of countries offhand, but I can assure my hon. Friend that the films are welcomed and that that is why we are producing more of them.
§ Sir L. RopnerAre any steps being taken to obtain copies of the sponsored films made by a large number of industrial and commercial companies, which can often be obtained free of charge and are extremely well done and very informative?
Mr. CarrI am afraid that I do not know the answer to that, but I will certainly look into the matter, because I appreciate the value of the suggestion.