HC Deb 12 June 1967 vol 748 cc86-8
35. Dr. Ernest A. Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the Beeley Report.

45. Mr. Boston

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement about the progress of the inquiry by Sir Harold Beeley into Great Britain's overseas information services.

53. Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish the Beeley Report.

70. Mr. Tilney

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Sir Harold Beeley's review of overseas information will be published: and whether this covers the possibility of setting up a British Council office in the Philippine Republic.

Mr. William Rodgers

Sir Harold Beeley's Report is now under consideration. We are discussing how the welcome interest of hon. Members and the general public in this Report can most suitably be met. In the meantime, it would hardly be appropriate for me to discuss the contents.

Dr. Davies

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply, but, as this Report deals generally with our information services and related matters, a subject of great concern to the House, it being increasingly necessary that Britain's voice be heard in the world not only on cultural subjects but also in support of our export drive, ought we not to have an opportunity to discuss its contents when the Report is presented?

Mr. Rodgers

We have this in mind, and I am sure that the point will have been noted by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council.

Mr. Boston

When will the Report be published? Second, can my hon. Friend say to what extent overseas broadcasting has been taken into account in the review, especially the need to increase output in the Far East services? In view of the considerable interest on both sides of the House in the need to improve overseas information services, will my hon. Friend take it that we should like a debate at an early opportunity?

Mr. Rodgers

I cannot give the date when the Report will be available for publication. The question of a debate has already been noted. There are many claimants of different kinds for expanded overseas information services. For services in the Far East as well as in the Middle East, the B.B.C. would be an obvious candidate which ought to be taken into account.

Lord Balniel

While we should welcome a debate on this Report later on, perhaps the hon. Gentleman would explain at this stage why broadcasts in Arabic were reduced earlier this year from 84 hours a week to 70 hours a week?

Mr. Rodgers

It is essential that, at all times, we should look at our overseas information services both to ensure proper continuity and to take account of our limited resources and the priorities as we see them. We try to make the best judgment possible in all the circumstances.