HC Deb 08 February 1956 vol 548 cc175-6W
61. Mr. Peyton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the arrangements for the monitoring of foreign broadcasts in the Middle East; and whether he is satisfied that those arrangements are adequate.

Mr. Nutting

The British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring Service, in cooperation with its American counterpart, covers daily about one hundred voice broadcasts and morse broadcast transmissions from foreign stations in the Middle East. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that these arrangements are adequate.

62. Mr. Peyton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he intends to take in order to ensure that British broadcasts in the Middle East are made often enough and in sufficiently clear terms to counteract the harmful effect of anti-British propaganda from Cairo Radio, Athens Radio, and other sources.

Mr. Nutting

The British Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts daily in Arabic for a total of four and a half hours, and it is hoped shortly to increase this period. There is also a daily transmission of one hour in Persian. While the planning and preparation of programmes is the responsibility of the Corporation, it consults the Foreign Office and is kept regularly informed of conditions in Middle Eastern countries and the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards them.

The B.B.C. broadcasts in Greek and Turkish for periods totalling one hour daily for each language. In addition to these transmissions intended primarily for Greece and Turkey, the Governments of Cyprus maintain their own local services for the island in these languages.

In addition to these services, the General Overseas Service of the B.B.C. is widely listened to.