§ 21. Mr. Ridleyasked the Postmaster-General how much was paid by the Government to the British Broadcasting Corporation in return for the broadcasting at 12 noon on 2nd May of advertisements put out by Government Departments for more engineers and tax collectors.
§ Mr. StonehouseNil, Sir.
§ Mr. RidleyShould not this practice be stopped, since the Minister has now accepted the principle that nationalised industries should not be required to do Government dirty work for nothing? Is he aware that it is remarkably offensive to other employers to have their employees bribed away from them by free advertisements on the B.B.C. which are not available to them to try to bribe away public sector employees?
§ Mr. StonehouseI do not believe that there is such resentment. The B.B.C. must be allowed to announce such appointments if it chooses, along with other announcements of interest to the public.