§ Captain BERKELEYasked the Postmaster-General how many ships receive, and on what terms they receive, broadcasted messages from this country?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSMy hon. and gallant Friend presumably refers to messages sent out by wireless telephony from the stations of the British Broadcasting Company. If so, I may say that there are no general arrangements for the reception of such messages on board ships, although they can be heard up to a comparatively short distance from the coast by the use of suitable apparatus. Certain official communiqués are broadcasted from the Government stations primarily for reception in foreign countries. Any ship is free to receive and make use of these communiqués without special authority. The Government stations also send out, in return for payment, news messages addressed to particular ships.