§ Captain FRASERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if any views were expressed by the representatives of the Colonies at the recent Colonial Conference as to the desirability of establishing in this country a wireless transmitter capable of conveying to the Colonies for redistribution the programmes of the British Broadcasting Corporation; and if the representatives indicated that their Governments would be prepared sympathetically to consider contributing towards the expenses incidental to such a service after the initiative had been taken by Great Britain?
§ Captain FRASERasked the President of the Board of Education if any views were expressed by the representatives of the Colonies at the recent Colonial Education Conference as to the advantages 1746W which would accrue to their countries if means existed whereby they could hear British broadcasting?
§ Mr. AMERYWith my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, I will answer this question, together with that addressed to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education, who has asked me to reply.
As regards the Colonial Office Conference, it was the general view of the representatives of the Dependencies that the institution of such a service, if found to be practicable, would be very widely appreciated overseas. While it was considered premature to ask them for an undertaking to contribute until the necessary experimental work in this country was further advanced, I do not for a moment anticipate that the Dependencies will show reluctance when the time comes to share the expense involved in instituting and maintaining such a service.
As regards the Imperial Education Conference, I understand that, in view of the experimental work still to be done before such a satisfactory broadcasting system could be established, no substantial discussion developed on the subject, though it was referred to incidentally in the course of the session devoted to the consideration of the position of wireless broadcasting in education.