§ 3.8 p.m.
§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy 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 are aware that other nations, especially the Russians, Germans and Chinese, broadcast to South Africa, and to Africa generally, more frequently than does Britain; and whether they will consider whether, in view of our considerable strategic, trade and other interests in Africa, and especially in Southern Africa, an increase in our broadcast services in English and in the vernacular languages would be justified.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN)My Lords, the figures at Her Majesty's Government's disposal do not bear out the contention that the other nations mentioned by my noble friend broadcast more frequently to Africa than the B.B.C. The total number of hours of programmes broadcast for Africa by our external services is, so far as we can ascertain, greater than the totals broadcast by the services of the other countries. Furthermore, audience research leads us to believe that the B.B.C.'s 981 broadcasts to Africa are no less effective than those of their competitors.
§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy Lords, I am glad to be corrected. May I ask the noble Marquess to realise that in the Republic of South Africa, to give one example, 60 per cent. of the people speak Afrikaans as their first language and many coloured Africans prefer Afrikaans to English, and that there is, therefore, still a case for giving Afrikaans a turn instead of only English?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I entirely take the point raised by my noble friend. This is something which I am certain Her Majesty's Government will look into.
§ LORD BLYTONMy Lords, in broadcasting to South Africa, can we emphasise our abhorrence of apartheid?
§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy Lords, before the noble Marquess answers, may I beg noble Lords in all parts of the House not to make Party expositions, especially in relation to other countries, when they are quite unnecessary?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, the content of the B.B.C.'s external broadcasts are matters for the B.B.C. themselves.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, can the noble Lord inform the House for how many hours weekly broadcasts are now being made in the Bantu langauge, and whether he has any means of ascertaining what their effect has been?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I am afraid I do not have the figures for the number of hours broadcast in the Bantu language, but I will let the noble Lord know about this matter.
LORD REAMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether the amount of broadcasting has gone down or up since the immediate post-war period? Are we still broadcasting as much as we did to that area?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, without being fully aware of the situation, I am not aware that the hours have gone down; but I will check on that and let the noble Lord know.
§ LORD DAVIES OF LEEKMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that to try to 982 measure the amount of broadcasting to foreign countries by the number of broadcasts is absolutely ridiculous? It is the quality of the broadcasts which counts, not the number of broadcasts made.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I am very glad that the noble Lord has made that point. This is something which is absolutely true, and I do not think there is the slightest doubt that the quality of the broadcasts by the B.B.C., in their external services, is very high and is highly appreciated.