§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the increase of amenities thereby likely to be effected in life in many of the Colonies, especially where these are thinly populated, he can state whether the various Governments of the Crown Colonies are endeavouring to stimulate the provision of broadcasting facilities and, if necessary, granting a certain measure of financial aid towards achieving this result?
§ Mr. AMERYThe Governments of the Colonies and Protectorates have been supplied from time to time with information as to the arrangements governing wireless broadcasting in this country, to assist them in dealing with applications for local broadcasting licences. It is not possible to state how many such licences have been issued, but negotiations, with a view to the establishment of broadcasting stations, are known to have been opened in some Colonies. The extent to which the provision of such facilities should be encouraged or assisted by the Colonial Government concerned must658W depend in each case on considerations of local policy and on the financial circumstances of the territory concerned. The introduction in Ceylon of a wireless broadcasting scheme was approved last year, and the matter has been taken up actively by the Governments of the Straits Settlements and of Hong Kong.