§ 56. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the future policy of the Government regarding the provision of schools broadcasting discs for under-developed territories.
Dr. HillSchools broadcasts on discs, which have been produced by the B.B.C. Colonial Schools Transcription Unit during the past eight years and on which permanent rights have been secured, are and will continue to be available free of charge to all Colonial Territories.
The transcription service of the British Broadcasting Corporation includes broadcasting discs for schools overseas. The net cost of the service, met from public funds, was about £296,000 in 1959–60 and will be substantially the same in 1960–61.
The British Council has available for loan overseas recordings of the B.B.C.'s "English by Radio" series and other verse and prose recordings. Schools make some modest use of this service.
It has to be borne in mind that the educational pattern and circumstances of different territories are so diverse that it is only in very special circumstances that material prepared in some one centre, remote from the place of use, can easily be made a part of the local educational system.