§ Mr. Bossomasked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will direct the British Broadcasting Corporation to broadcast urgent and grave information, officially conveyed to it by the chief of a county fire brigade, in the same way as similar news is now broadcast that is conveyed by the chief of county police.
§ Mr. GammansNo. The Government are continuing the traditional policy of allowing the B.B.C. independence in what they broadcast. It has long been the practice of the police to make arrangements direct with the Corporation to broadcast urgent announcements on their behalf; any broadcast desired by the fire authorities should also be discussed direct. I understand that in the instance which my hon. Friend no doubt has in mind, the B.B.C. did broadcast information at the request of the Chief Fire Officer.