§ 33. Sir T. Beamishasked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs if he will describe the arrangements for monitoring English and foreign language broadcasts initiated by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and all other member countries of the Warsaw Pact; whether the system is comprehensive; what is the division of responsibilities between the Foreign Office and the British Broadcasting Corporation; and why it was not possible to provide the hon. Member for Lewes with a script of the broadcast made at 00.45 hours on Thursday 17th September on Radio Budapest.
§ Mr. George ThomsonBroadcasts by all member countries of the Warsaw Pact are monitored round the clock by the British Broadcasting Corporation, but the volume of these broadcasts is such that the Corporation's resources permit only a proportion of the total to be covered. Priorities for monitoring, which vary according to the situation, are decided in the light of consultation between the Corporation and the Foreign Office. The particular broadcast referred to by the hon. and gallant Member was not monitored by the Corporation and it was not possible, therefore, to provide a transcript.