§ 2. Mr. Danceasked the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange that in future the annual report and accounts of the British Broadcasting Corporation will include information on the cost of programmes which are produced but not screened.
§ Mr. StonehouseNo, Sir.
§ Mr. DanceIs the Minister aware that, in the near future, the public will be called upon to pay more in licence fees? Surely they should be told how that money is squandered?
§ Mr. StonehouseIt would be most unwise for me to interfere into the day-today running of the affairs of the B.B.C, and certainly it would be unwise to discourage it from producing venturesome programmes.
§ Mr. EnglishIs it not true that the total cost of programmes per hour is known and, of course, that this cost includes the cost of scrapped programmes?
§ Mr. StonehouseYes.