§ 1. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Assistant Postmaster-General what areas will be covered by the new television station at Wenvoe; and during what periods it will be operative.
§ The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr. David Gammans)The BBC. expects that the boundary of the service area of the new television station at Wenvoe will be approximately along a line through Barnstaple, Tiverton, Teignmouth, Swanage, Marlborough and Gloucester, and slightly to the north of Brecon, Carmarthen and Tenby. Some parts of the country within this line are mountainous, and the quality of reception may vary considerably from place to place. Reception near the boundary of the estimated service area will depend very much on local conditions. During the initial period when the station is working on low power, reception will be more liable to interference, particularly in the fringe areas. The station will normally work during the same hours as the existing television stations.
§ Mr. FreemanCould the hon. Gentleman tell us to what extent that interference will be serious in the areas which are overlapping between the Midland station and the Wenvoe station?
§ Mr. GammansI do not think we shall know exactly until the station is in full operation, but the B.B.C. has no reason to suppose that it is likely to be serious.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsCould the hon. Gentleman tell us how soon the high-powered station will be functioning?
§ Mr. GammansThe B.B.C. does not yet know, but in the case of the other stations which started as low power stations and then went on to high power it was about three months.