HC Deb 25 March 1959 vol 602 cc123-4W
66. Colonel Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what success the British Broadcasting Corporation has had in overcoming efforts of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to jam their Russian language broadcasts; to what extent these broadcasts were jammed during the Prime Minister's recent visit to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; when the last protest was made about this matter; and what reply has been received.

Mr. R. Allan

As comprehensive audience research cannot be carried out in the U.S.S.R. it is not possible to know to what extent and in what regions the B.B.C. Russian language broadcasts are heard in spite of the continued jamming.

No change in the density of Soviet jamming was noted during the visit of the Prime Minister to the Soviet Union.

The last approach to the Soviet Government was made in Her Majesty's Government's note of 23rd April, 1958, proposing inter-governmental discussions on cultural exchanges. The note suggested as the first item on the agenda the desirability of ensuring that each country's broadcasts to the other are free from jamming. In their reply of 16th June, 1958, the Soviet Government did not refer to this proposal.