§ 94. Mr. Ernest Daviesasked the Postmaster-General whether, in accordance with Article 17 of the B.B.C. Charter, he has considered the Corporation's accounts for 1947–48; why they were not presented in as great detail as those of other publicly-owned services; and whether he will require them to be made more informative.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingFull consideration was given to the detail shown in the B.B.C. accounts in connection with the 107W comments made by the Select Committee on Estimates in their First Report for the Session 1945–46. The conclusion reached was that no way could be seen in which the present degree of detail, which is very considerable, could be amplified with advantage and without involving undue interference with the day-to-day conduct of the Corporation's business, which it is the policy of the Government to avoid. I should add that the present form of the accounts is, except for minor modifications, that recommended by the Ullswater Committee, which gave special consideration to suggestions that current expenditure should be shown in greater detail. I see no reason to dissent from this conclusion.