§ 24. Mr. Charles Greyasked the Assistant Postmaster - General what amount of Post Office capital is being spent at Pontop Pike in connection with the television cable connecting the Holme Moss transmitter with that now building at Kirk o'Shotts.
§ Mr. GammansThe Post Office relay station at Pontop Pike will cost about£60,000.
§ Mr. GreyMight I ask the Assistant Postmaster-General if it is not a fact that the electronics industry could provide this transmitter for Pontop Pike if the Treasury would provide the money? Can he tell us why the more industrial parts of the country should be deprived of this amenity and why the wealth of the north should be used to provide facilities for others while being deprived of them themselves?
§ Mr. GammansThose points do not arise from the Question on the Order Paper.
§ Mr. Thomas SteeleCan the hon. Gentleman give us information as to when the new station at Kirk o'Shotts will come into operation?
§ Mr. GammansIf the hon. Member puts down a Question on that I will reply to it.
§ 25. Mr. Greyasked the Assistant Postmaster-General the cost of laying the television cable between Huddersfield and Kirk o'Shotts.
§ Mr. GammansThe estimated cost of the radio television link between Manchester and Kirk o'Shotts is about£520,000; cable is not being used.
§ 26. Mr. Greyasked the Assistant Postmaster-General the estimated cost of the television transmitter proposed by the British Broadcasting Corporation for Pontop Pike.
§ Mr. GammansI am informed by the B.B.C. that the estimated cost of the station at Pontop Pike, the erection of which has been postponed, would be in the region of£150,000 to£200,000.
§ Mr. GreyCan the hon. Gentleman give any idea of how long it will be before proceeding with this station?
§ Mr. GammansNo, I can give no indication at all.
§ 27. Mr. Ernest Popplewellasked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he has considered the desirability of utilising the television cable passing through Pontop Pike for the purpose of providing television for the North-East; and if he will indicate the cost of providing a transmitter for this purpose.
§ Mr. GammansWhen a television station is provided for the North-East it is intended to connect it to the Manchester—Kirk o'Shotts radio link which passes through Pontop Pike. The cost of a station at Pontop Pike would be in the region of£150,000 to£200,000.
§ Mr. PopplewellWould the Minister repeat the assurance given by his predecessor, the former Postmaster-General, in regard to television arrangements in this densely populated industrial area, that when it is possible to go ahead with Pon-top Pike this would be priority Ne. 1 in the lower-powered stations that are to be provided?
§ Mr. GammansI cannot give the assurance of priority No. 1, but I can assure the hon. Member that the work will be put in hand as soon as the supply situation and the defence position allow.
§ Mr. PopplewellAs his predecessor gave that assurance, surely the hon. Gentleman will repeat it?
§ Mr. GammansI am not responsible for assurances made by my predecessor.
§ Mr. R. E. WinterbottomIn view of the nature of the reply, how does the hon. Gentleman reconcile it with his previous answer that no cable will be used?
§ Mr. GammansBecause it is not a cable link; it is a radio link.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Slater.
Miss WardOn a point of order. I have risen to put a supplementary question several times but hon. Members opposite have been called.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am very sorry, but I failed to observe the hon. Lady. Mr. Slater.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Slater.
§ 28. Mr. J. Slaterasked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications have been received for licences to permit relay television in the area that was intended to be covered by the proposed transmitter at Pontop Pike.
§ Mr. GammansThree, Sir.
§ Mr. SlaterIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is much confusion in the North-East in regard to this matter? Will he tell the House what his policy is in relation to it?
§ Mr. GammansI did not quite understand what the hon. Member was asking. He asked how many applications there had been and I have told him that there are three.
§ Mr. George ChetwyndHas the hon. Gentleman agreed to any of them?
§ Mr. GammansThere is no question of agreeing or not agreeing until the Pontop Pike station is put into operation.
Miss WardIs it not a fact that the low powered transmitters are already built and available for erection as soon as my hon. Friend's Department says they can go forward? What is the point of arguing about the low powered transmitters if they are already there?
§ Mr. GammansThe low powered transmitters are not there.