HC Deb 23 May 1994 vol 244 cc10-1
12. Mr. Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions he has had with the BBC concerning its "Marshall Plan of the Mind" project; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Brooke

I enjoyed attending the launch of the "Marshall Plan of the Mind" exhibition in the House, where I had various discussions but of a purely informal nature. The main responsibility for that initiative rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Mr. Barnes

Why is this crude capitalist propaganda being pushed out in the Russian media with the help of the Government know-how funds, and why does it have charitable status? Why does not the programme show what life is really like in free market Britain, with 5 million unemployed, a third of our children living in poverty, 500,000 people on housing lists and 500,000 building workers out of work?

Mr. Brooke

The hon. Gentleman misses the point of the programme. The purpose of the "Marshall Plan of the Mind" is to assist the people of Russia to make progress economically over a wide front and in a number of imaginative ways. The BBC has received extremely enthusiastic responses from the Russian audiences that have seen it and, frankly, the hon. Gentleman's question was a disgrace.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Has not that question at least provided my right hon. Friend with the opportunity to share with the House the true facts about the "Marshall Plan of the Mind" Would not it be a good thing if World Service Television and the "Marshall Plan of the Mind" were as successful as World Service on radio?

Should not we continue to demonstrate the benefits of flexible economics and politics and of dedication to self-improvement which, in many ways, has allowed this country to lead the world in broadcasting, publishing and spreading many of our technical skills?

Mr. Brooke

I am most grateful to my hon. Friend. The BBC's reputation around the world has been earned because the world knows that the BBC tells of life in this country as it is. I am likewise grateful to my hon. Friend for rebutting the suggestions made by the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes).