§ 108 and 109. Mr. Mayhewasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (1) what measures he is taking to make available to Canadian television services films, tele-films and other television programme material produced in this country;
(2) the cost of our broadcasting and other information services to Canada; and what proportion of this cost relates to the supply of programme material for the Canadian television programmes.
§ Mr. J. FosterThe total cost of British Information Services to Canada in the current year, excluding the B.B.C., is approximatelyf68,000. The B.B.C.'s General Overseas Service and North American Service are available to Canada in common with several other countries, but the cost in relation to Canada cannot effectively be separately identified.
As regards television, the position is that, of the films produced or acquired by the Central Office of Information, those suitable for the purpose are always offered to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation at print cost. The B.B.C. have supplied to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation a number of films and tele-films from those produced for the Home Television Service, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation defraying all the costs involved in the supply of the films for Canadian use. 71W The B.B.C. will continue to offer such films on the same basis to the C.B.C. but it is anticipated that the number will be relatively small. The importance of ensuring that television systems in the Commonwealth are able to obtain programme-material of United Kingdom origin is recognised and the general question is under examination.