§ 30. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Postmaster-General why no practical use is being made of the researches conducted by his Department to enable sound and television broadcasts to be available through the telephone line system to telephone subscribers.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsThe experiments have not proceeded beyond the laboratory stage, and a system for conveying television over telephone subscribers' lines has not yet been devised.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonCan my right hon. Friend give an assurance that this valuable research, which, I understand, has been developed to a practical basis, will not be discouraged or stifled merely because it will make expensive wireless sets unnecessary in the home market, thus fitting in with the Government's re-armament programme?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsThe thing is not yet practicable. The very great difficulty we might be in if it were practicable would be the amount of capital required to develop it.
§ Mr. GreyCan the Minister give an estimate of the cost in each district which has felt the full effect of his recent announcement in respect of the erection of the five low-power stations, if they were served by this medium of a telephone wire broadcasting system?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsMy hon. Friend is mixing two things. One is television relay and the other is a telephone line system.