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British Broadcasting Corporation (Parliamentary Questions)

Volume 388: debated on Friday 2 April 1943

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48.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is intended to make arrangements to enable Governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation to answer Questions in the House of Commons for that part of the activities of the British Broadcasting Corporation over which the Minister of Information has no control in the same way that the Forestry and Charity Commissioners reply for their respective Departments?

No, Sir. The present arrangements enable Parliament to be informed as to any matters of general policy affecting the British Broadcasting Corporation; but it has never been contemplated that matters affecting the day-to-day administration of the Corporation should be the subject of Question and Answer in the House. There is no analogy with the Forestry Commission and the Charity Commission, which are Government Departments.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is the growing practice for the Minister of Information and the Governors of the B.B.C. to speak for that Corporation in the House? Would he consider setting up a Select Committee to consider the whole future of State broadcasting?

Will the Prime Minister bear in mind that under the present altered arrangements the B.B.C. draws its finances through Government Departments and therefore the House is responsible for such expenditure, which was not formerly the case?

There are a great many public bodies and corporations which are directly or indirectly supplied by moneys under the control of Parliament which do not have Ministerial representatives.

In view of the statement yesterday by Sir Alan Powell, one of the Governors, on the future of the B.B.C. will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that this close Government control of the B.B.C. will go after the war?