§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD ABERDAREMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they approve of the recent reductions in the external broadcasting services of the B.B.C.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE)My Lords, Departments of Her Majesty's Government prescribe the languages and hours of broadcasting of the B.B.C.'s external services. The cost is met by a grant-in-aid which is included in the total sum authorised for expenditure on overseas information services. The adjustments in the B.B.C.'s services, to which my noble friend refers, were made necessary by changed circumstances and by budgetary considerations.
§ LORD ABERDAREMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer, but may I ask him whether it is not an unsatisfactory way of financing these very important broadcasts overseas if, every time there is an increase in cost, due in this case, I understand, to a pay award, there have to be cuts in these services which, as the noble Marquess has said, are requested by prescribing Government Departments?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEMy Lords, I think your Lordships ought to get this matter into proportion. I agree that it was unfortunate that these services had to be curtailed in any way, but I think we must take into account that the readjustments which have been made mean that we lose fifteen minutes a day out of a total of 355 broadcasting hours per week. I think one ought to see it in that light. It is a total loss of 15 minutes which has taken place. Your Lordships must realise that we have to keep within the budgetary amount; we cannot just put up the amount every time like that. In order to keep within the budget, certain readjustments have to be made, and this meant, I am afraid, a loss of 15 minutes a day out of 355 broadcasting hours per week.
§ THE EARL OF LUCANMy Lords, can the noble Marquess say to which area that 15 minutes cut was applied?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEThailand.
LORD REAMy Lords, would the noble Marquess give an assurance that it is the Government's policy to support 3 the overseas services as widely as possible in view of their enormous propaganda value, and in view of the fact that the Defence Vote has gone up by between £100 million and £200 million? Would he not think it desirable that the overseas services should be looked upon in something of the same light?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEAs your Lordships are aware, the grant-in-aid to the B.B.C. has, since 1957–58, been increased to the tune of £1 million, and certainly that is in conformity with Her Majesty's Government's policy.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, do these budgetary operations arise because we have had a repetition of 1955—that after the Budget giving away money before the Election you have to come down to these small and petty economies? Does the noble Marquess realise that there are constant broadcasts, right through the day and night, to Thailand and the Far East; from Russia, China, Japan and other countries as well? Is it not vastly important that we should be maintaining our point of view in that area?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEMy Lords, I would certainly agree with the noble Viscount the Leader of the Opposition. It is very important indeed, of course, and one would not for one moment deny it. But as I tried to explain, we have to cut our garment according to our cloth. We cannot just spend money in any way. The noble Viscount is well aware that we must exercise reasonable and sensible budgetary control.
§ EARL ATTLEEMy Lords, does it not show a lack of the sense of priorities? Surely it is one of the most important things in the world to-day that our case should be put. Is it really worth while cutting it down for some imaginary saving?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEMy Lords, I cannot anticipate what is going to happen, but the Civil Estimates will be coming up very shortly, and I think it is not unreasonable to suppose that your Lordships may be agreeably surprised by what takes place then.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, could the noble Marquess say what other services he has in mind to cut on the occasion of the next wages demand?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNENo, my Lords. I do not think that has any relation to the original Question.
§ LORD STRANGMy Lords, do Her Majesty's Government really think that this policy of robbing Peter to pay Paul is the best way of running a long-term enterprise like the overseas external services of the B.B.C.?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEMy Lords, I am not quite clear what the noble Lord means by "robbing Peter to pay Paul." If he means to pay the increased wages of the personnel, I am afraid the answer must be, Yes.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, do I take it from the answers that the noble Marquess has given that the Foreign Office have entirely agreed to this cut? It might be useful information for us later.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEMy Lords, I have tried to make it clear. These arrangements are prescribed by the various Government Departments concerned, so certainly anything of this nature has the approval, in consultation with the B.B.C., of those Government Departments who are concerned.