104 THE BRITISH APPROACH TO POLITICS

Savings Bank. The money deposited here comes under the
control of the National Debt Commissioners; they invest it in
Government Securities, or may lend it, along with other money
which comes to them, to Government Departments. The Post
Office itself receives money from the Commissioners for capital
expenditure—e.g., on buildings, or telephone equipment. The
sudden realisation by the public, at the Election of 1931, that
for many years, Savings Bank money had been lent to the <
Unemployment Insurance Fund, created a good deal of alarm.
In fact, the money is in the same position as any other money
lent to the Government; it is safe so long as the Government is
not, as a regular practice, spending more than its income.

The P.M.G. is responsible to Parliament for broadcasting,
though this is controlled, separately from the Post Office, by the
B.B.C. At present, power is left to the Governors and the
Director. The independence of the Corporation is shown by the
fact that the Director has, on more than one occasion, addressed
groups of M.P.'s and dealt with criticisms. These have usually
been aimed at three points:—personnel—the choice of people
to broadcast, and the relations between the B.B.C. and its staff:
cultural standards—the comparative time, for instance, allotted
to dance music and to serious subjects: and the attitude of the
Corporation towards politics.. One point has been dealt with by
allowing the staff to form an association. As to the others, the
Ulkwater Committee recommended in 1936 that a special
Minister should take over responsibility, since the duties were
so different from those of a P.M.G. The Government did not
adopt this plan, arguing that the Corporation should be
independent. Certainly, if the B.B.C. were completely under
Government control, the party in power would be able to use
what should be national property solely for itp own propaganda.
But at present there is the unsatisfactory position that the
delicate question of keeping the B.B.C. impartial and allowing
all shades of opinion a chance at the micrpphone is settled by
people who are not, in effect, controlled by Parliament. In all