Photoemission spectra of thick films of beta-PO2 have been measured over a range of exciting photon energies between 40 eV and 150 eV. There is evidence for occupation of conduction band states above the top of the main valence band to give a degenerate electron gas and the spectra terminate in a sharp metallic Fermi edge. Structure associated with screening of shallow 5d core holes by the mobile conduction electrons observed in AlK alpha excited X-ray photoemission spectra is suppressed in the lower energy spectra and the Pb 5d core level appears as a simple spin-orbit doublet. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.