§ 42. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Postmaster-General whether Post Office engineers engaged in dealing with cases of interference with broadcast reception in this country are empowered to take or recommend action for the prevention of interference with the reception of foreign programmes as well as interference with the reception of British programmes; and what is the present number of such engineers employed and the annual expenditure thereon?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir Walter Womersley)It is not the practice to deal with complaints of interference with the reception of foreign programmes. The number of engineering officers at present employed in dealing with cases of interference with broadcast reception of British programmes—expressed in terms of full time staff—is 234. The total annual expenditure is at present about £80,000.
§ Mr. DAYIs any interference or jamming of foreign programmes caused by specific instructions of Government Departments?
§ Sir W. WOMERSLEYNot that I am aware of. The interference complained of is the fact that these foreign station broadcasts fade out when they get to this country owing to the full strength of the broadcast.