Broadcasting Committee (1949-1950): Evidence and Papers

This series contains the committee papers, verbatim reports of evidence and minutes of the committee appointed in 1949 to consider the constitution, control, finance and other general aspects of the sound and television broadcasting services of the United Kingdom. The report of the committee, which was chaired by Lord Beveridge, was published on 17 January 1951.

See also HO 256

Topics

Radio and television

Communications

The Committee was appointed by the President of the Council and the Postmaster General jointly "to consider the constitution, control, finance and other general aspects of the sound and television broadcasting services of the United Kingdom (excluding those aspects of the overseas services for which the BBC are not responsible) and to advise on the conditions under which these services and wire broadcasts should be conducted after 31 December 1951."

The Chairman first announced, Lord Radcliffe, was unable to take up his duties owing to his appointment as Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, and the committee actually sat under the chairmanship of Lord Beveridge who was appointed on 21 June 1949.

In accordance with the three preceding Committees of Inquiry into Broadcasting in 1923, 1925 and 1935, the Beveridge Committee held its meetings in private on 62 occasions, on 42 of which they took oral evidence, in addition to interviews and enquiries carried out by sub-committees and individual members.

The Final Report was signed on 15 December 1950 by all but one member, Selwyn Lloyd, who produced a Minority Report, and these together with further notes and reservations by various members of the Committee and appendices A - G were presented as one command paper (No.8116) on 17 January 1951. Appendix H containing memoranda of evidence was presented as a separate command paper (No.8117).