Week in Westminster

The Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928 had been given Royal Assent on 2 July 1928.

Women's broadcasting on the Home Service had been initiated by Hilda Matheson OBE (7 June 1888- 30 October 1940).

As parliament, and its affairs, was thought to be a new institution to most women by the patriarchal-run BBC, it was decided to create a radio programme whereby female MPs would broadcast short talks to the nation's women, to help them familiarise the parliamentary processes and significances.

Lord Reith approved of the programme, and wrote of it, "it is chiefly for the benefit of housewives but covering also a large mixed audience of shift-workers, unemployed, invalids, etcetera".

In the late 1930s the programme's producer was Guy Burgess, later found to be a Soviet spy.