asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of dollars is involved in payment to United States writers of songs and dance music by way of royalties and performing rights; and what steps he proposes to take to reduce these payments and so conserve our dollar resources.

About £150,000 a year for royalties and performing rights of music of all sorts. I do not propose to interfere in this particular matter.

Is the Chancellor aware that this liability is unnecessarily increased by the plugging of music for which dance band leaders are paid?

We must not be too censorious about how people like to take their enjoyment. If people like this kind of thing, this is the kind of thing they like.