§ Mr. AMMONasked the Postmaster General if he is aware that on 12th April a speech by Mr. B. S. Townroe, of the "Building News," was broadcasted from the London broadcasting station on the subject of the threatened building lockout, in which it was stated that building wages had increased to a rate higher than in any pre-War year, and no mention was made of the fact that real wages were 17 301W per cent. lower than pre-War; and whether he is taking any steps to secure that any broadcasted political or industrial news will be stated in an unbiased manner?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI think it is undesirable that the broadcasting service should be used for the dissemination of speeches on controversial matters, and I have had the attention of the British Broadcasting Company called to the incident to which the hon. Member refers.
§ Mr. AMMONasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether, in view of the very large profits being made by the firms which form the British Broadcasting 302W Company, he is taking any steps to reduce the royalties received by the company and to control the profits of the constituent firms, respectively;
(2)whether, in view of the unexpectedly rapid development of broadcasting and of the inadequacy of the British Broadcasting Company agreement to meet the needs of the new situation, he is taking any steps to revise or cancel the agreement?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on the subject on the 19th instant. As I then stated, I propose to refer the whole question to a Committee.