East Anglia (Hansard, 1 July 1953)

§ 57. Mr. Fell
asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of television licences that have been issued to people living in East Anglia.

§ Mr. Gammans
In the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, the number of current television licences is about 2,500, 5,300 and 12,000.

§ Mr. Fell
Will my hon. Friend consider whether there is any way in which people who cannot receive television but have television sets in their homes can be relieved of these licences until such time as a programme is available? Is he aware that he may be getting quite a large number of postcards with more than political slogans on them if the people in this area do not receive television programmes soon?

§ Mr. Gammans
I would not advise anybody in any part of the United Kingdom to buy a television set until he is quite sure that he can get reception with it.

§ 58. Mr. Fell
asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the total population of the area to be covered by the proposed British Broadcasting Corporation Channel Islands television transmitter; and the estimated population of those areas of East Anglia that are unable to receive a regular television broadcast.

§ Mr. Gammans
The stations planned by the B.B.C. for the Channel Islands and East Anglia will serve about 100,000 and 1,000,000 people, respectively.

§ Mr. Fell
Does not my hon. Friend think that in view of that reply it will be difficult for the usual generosity of the people of East Anglia to show itself? Will not their generosity be strained if the Channel Islands are to receive a television programme and they receive it before East Anglia does?

§ Mr. Gammans
No statement has been made that the Channel Islands are to receive a television programme.

§ 62. Brigadier Medlicott
asked the Assistant Postmaster-General for an assurance that when the next areas for the extension of television facilities are decided upon, the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk will be given at least equal priority with any other areas, especially in view of the fact that the nature of the country is suitable for television transmission.

§ Mr. Gammans
I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mr. Bullard) on 24th June.

§ Brigadier Medlicott
May I ask the Minister not to be influenced too much by the question of population only, but to bear in mind that these are all agricultural communities and that the people who do so much to produce our food are entitled to a higher priority in amenities of this kind?

§ Mr. Edward Evans
Are we likely to get a satisfactory answer tomorrow on this question?

§ Mr. Gammans
I suggest that the hon. Member should be in his place.

§ Mr. C. Williams
Will my hon. Friend remember that Devon and the West Country are much more important in an agricultural way and in everything else than all the Northern and Eastern counties?

§ 63. Brigadier Medlicott
asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware of the disappointment which is being expressed in many parts of East Anglia resulting from the fact that although the Coronation was seen on television in many parts of Europe, including France and Germany, nothing was done to make effective signals available for the people of many parts of East Anglia and particularly the County of Norfolk; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Gammans
My noble Friend has great sympathy for the people of East Anglia in this matter, but, as I have previously informed the House, there is no question of facilities having been made available for foreigners in preference to British subjects. The equipment used to enable other countries to take the Coronation programme was quite unsuitable for a television station in this country.

§ Brigadier Medlicott
In this matter, and particularly in his statement tomorrow, will the Minister bear in mind the warning of Solomon which is contained in the 29th Chapter of the Book of Proverbs, that: Where there is no vision, the people perish"?

§ Mr. H. Morrison
Will the hon. Gentleman keep in mind that it would be as well to concentrate on giving a universal B.B.C. service to our own country before we start playing about with commercial television?

§ Mr. Gammans
I think the right hon. Gentleman had better wait until tomorrow's statement.

§ Major Legge-Bourke
Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that the treatment which the B.B.C. have given to East Anglia, both in sound broadcasting and television, is one of the finest arguments for commercial television?