367

SECRET
POLICY COMMITTEE
Thursday, 7th November 1940.

PRESENT:

Minister

D.G.

D.D.G.

Secretary

P.S.

Sir Maurice Peterson

Lord Davidson

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Bamford

Mr. Fraser

Mr. Macadam

Mr. Wellington

Mr. Harvey

Mr. Leigh Ashton

Mr. Tree

Mr. Gates

Mr. Ogilvie

Mr. Valentine Williams

Mr. Waddell (Secretary)

MINUTES OF LAST MEETING

The Minutes of the Meeting on 31st October were taken as read and approved.

1. G.P.O. FILM UNIT: REQUISITIONING OF ACCOMMODATION.

Mr. Bamford reported that the Unit was at present occupying accommodation at Denham and was still using a part of the Studios at Blackheath; they did not wish to leave Blackheath whilst the position about Denham was still uncertain. Difficulties had been experienced in securing a satisfactory arrangement at Denham because although it was possible to requisition accommodation, it was necessary also to have the services of D. and P. staff which could not be requisitioned. Moreover, it appeared that certain of the equipment which would be necessary was not owned by the owners of the accommodation and was held on licence from American owners. For the time being the Unit was obtaining services on hire from D & P. but the costs were high.

A report was being prepared by the Office of Works on the position about requisitioning; when this report had been considered it would be possible to take a decision on whether to proceed by requisitioning, or to reopen negotiations on a basis of hiring. It was suggested that if we could requisition accommodation we might be able to reach a satisfactory agreement about services. The position was noted, and it was agreed that a further report should be made at the next Meeting of the Committee.

[Extracted to F/file 206]

2. The Minister said that one or two M.Ps had spoken to him the previous day about the brief references made in B.B.C. News Bulletins on Tuesday, 5th November, to the proceedings in the House. Mr. Ogilvie explained that the B.B.C. accepted as axiomatic the principle that as much time as possible in the bulletins should be given to Parliamentary proceedings but it had been necessary on this occasion to give a good deal of time to the Prime Minister's own statement. It had indeed been suggested that the time given to this had been insufficient. He would have enquiries made 368 - 2 -about the composition of the bulletins on Tuesday, and would see that his staff bore in mind the feeling of Members as reported by the Minister.

3. RESERVATION OF ACCOMMODATION FOR THE B.B.C.

Mr. Ogilvie said that in accordance with Government directions, the B.B.C. wherever possible negotiated for the accommodation they required, but had on one or two recent occasions met with difficulty because after negotiations had been concluded and the Office of Works had been notified of the agreement, other Departments had requisitioned or had earmarked the accommodation. It was suggested that the B.B.C. were receiving unfair treatment and it was agreed that they should carry on with the installation of plant at the place agreed upon for the Research Department, and that Mr. Ogilvie should discuss his difficulties with the Secretary, who would try to adjust matters with the Office of Works. The B.B.C. to be protected as part of Ministry of Information.

[RC 6/13]

4. EVACUATION OF B.B.C. STAFF .

Sir Maurice Peterson referred to an account he had heard of the evacuation of part of the B.B.C. Intelligence Unit which was of particular importance to Mr. Harvey's Division in the Ministry. Mr. Ogilvie said that the Unit which prepared the monthly reports on European Broadcasts had been moved to new accommodation within London, and that he would ascertain whether this was the section about which Mr. Harvey was concerned.

[File No]

5. The Minister referred to a telegram from Cairo which indicated the poor opinion held by the Secretary of State for War of the Arabic broadcasts, and promised to show this to Mr. Ogilvie. Sir Maurice Peterson remarked that this particular complaint was being taken up to-day at a meeting of the Middle Eastern Committee of the B.B.C.

[B/2/7/1]

6. Lord Davidson drew attention to a campaign which was in preparation under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour for “Safety First” in factories. He felt that in view of the present difficulties in securing continuance of production during “alerts” a campaign under this name might have an adverse effect, and the Minister agreed to bring the matter to Mr. Bevin's notice.

[GP]

7. THE “DEDICATED MOMENT”.

Mr. Ogilvie referred to previous discussions on this matter and to the implication behind the various suggestions which would mean the B.B.C. actively interesting itself in the proposal. It had now been arranged that Big Ben would be sounded at 9 p.m. either alive or as a recording. There would be publicity about the matter in the “Radio Times” to be issued to-morrow, there would be a post script by Howard Marshall and a notice in the 6 o'clock news on Sunday, 10th November. The sounding of Big Ben would take approximately 60 seconds, and it was felt that this would satisfy those who asked for the “Dedicated Moment”, and at the same time would not associate the B.B.C. too closely with it.

[B/6/34]