§ 30. Mr. Hareasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is prepared now to consider reopening the transmitter station at Ipswich, which operated during the war, in view of the continued poor wireless reception in East Suffolk and other parts of East Anglia, despite his promised efforts to improve the medium wave regional service in those areas.
§ The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr. Burke)I regret that it is not practicable to reopen the station at Ipswich, as a. wavelength cannot be spared for this purpose. A new mast is being erected, however, at the B.B.C.'s station at Brook-mans Park; it is hoped to complete the work by the autumn and this will enable the B.B.C. to effect the promised improvement in reception of the regional service in East Suffolk.
§ Mr. HareIs the hon. Gentleman right in saying that an additional wave length is needed? I understand that it is merely 517 a retransmitting of an existing service, and that this service which existed during the war and closed down in July, 1945, cannot easily be restarted until additional improved arrangements have been made.
§ Mr. BurkeDuring the war we had only two programmes. Now we have seven regional programmes. There is not a wave length to spare and, in any case, the Ipswich transmitter covers only five miles and would not benefit the rest of East Suffolk.