§ THE EARL OF HALSBURYasked His Majesty's Government whether facilities for a broadcast address by a distinguished Italian, which was directed to remind the peoples of both this country and of Italy of the age-long friendship between them, and which had received the approval of the Foreign Office, were refused by the British Broadcasting Corporation on the ground that in the view of the Corporation the time for such an address was not opportune; and whether under present conditions, where international relationships must of necessity be delicate, the Government will not take the decision of what is and what is not to be broadcast on international matters out of the hands of individuals who are not responsible to Parliament, and take such decision finally and absolutely into the hands of the Government itself.
§ LORD TEMPLEMOREI am enquiring into the matter raised in the first part of the noble Earl's Question. The Government is not prepared under present conditions to adopt the suggestion contained in the latter part of the Question.