§ Mr. Lyonsasked the Postmaster-General whether he will set up an inquiry into the dissemination of news and information by the British Broadcasting Corporation, in view of the reiterated complaints of political bias and propaganda?
§ Sir W. WomersleyAs my right hon. Friend indicated in reply to a supplementary question on the 25th January, he is not prepared to recommend the holding of a further inquiry, seeing that the Ullswater Committee held an inquiry lasting for some months in the course of which this matter was thoroughly investigated and that the Government and the House have come to a decision on the committee's report.
§ Mr. Lyonsasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the criticism now being directed against the bias alleged to be shown in political references by the British Broadcasting Corporation, he will arrange to have verbatim statements of all political news summaries and school broadcasts placed in the Library of the House of Commons for each day and night?
§ Sir W. WomersleyMy right hon. Friend has already suggested to the British Broadcasting Corporation that 1203W copies of "The Listener," which contains the principal broadcast talks of the week, should be supplied for use in the Newspaper Room, and this is being arranged. It does not, however, seem reasonable to call on the British Broadcasting Corporation to furnish daily verbatim extracts from news summaries and school broadcasts, but I have no doubt that the Corporation would be glad to give hon. Members access, on request, to any individual items in which they may be interested.