Parliament and the B.B.C.
In last Thursday's debate on the B.B.C. in the House of Commons, the most serious critieisms • were those of conditions of employment and of staff administration. The announcement of the Apppintment of a Director of staff administration is hardly enough to silence them. On the whole, it seems a pity that the Ullswater Commis- sion's recommendation, that provision should be made for staff consultation by Trade Union methods, has not been followed. On the other hand, there was little serious dissatisfaction with programme policy ; the compliments paid to the B.B.C. are a proof that adverse comment on some points is not ill meant or malicious. The debate served an admirable purpose as an expression a opinion which distinguished clearly between. what is mere gossip or rumour and what is well-founded criticism. Yet, since the Charter had to be approved without amendment, it gave no assurance that the grounds for criticism will be removed. Major_Tryon's speech, as Postmaster-General; could not conceal the weaknesses which have been revealed ; but it was not the speech of a Minister whose Parliamentary position depended on these weaknesses being corrected. The B.B.C. loses rather than gains by not having an advocate responsible to Parliament.
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