§ 12. Brigadier Medlicottasked the Assistant Postmaster-General why priority in regard to television stations has been given to Aberdeen, Belfast, the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Pontop Pike, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, in preference to Norfolk and Suffolk and other parts of East Anglia which are out of effective range of any existing transmitter.
§ Mr. GammansThe five main stations named were included in a 10 station plan put before Parliament in 1949 and the first task of the British Broadcasting Corporation must be to complete this plan. Stations in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man have been authorised because of the special constitutional position of these Islands.
§ Brigadier MedlicottWill my hon. Friend bear in mind that the people of East Anglia have shown commendable restraint in pressing their claim, and, because of that, we ought to have our reward in due season? In other words, will my hon. Friend give very satisfactory replies to the next two Questions?
§ Mr. GammansMy hon. and gallant Friend must wait until I answer the next two Questions.
§ Mr. Edward EvansIs the hon. Gentleman aware that Norfolk and Suffolk have a population of well over 1 million and that there is a great deal of dissatisfaction about the present situation? Will he bear this in mind and ensure that we get very high priority for the next station?
§ 13 and 14. Brigadier Medlicottasked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) if he will give an assurance that when the situation of the next series of television stations is decided on, the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk will be adequately provided for;
(2) how soon it is contemplated that the British Broadcasting Corporation television will be available to the areas which are intended to be included in the next programme of development following upon the programme announced on 2nd July.
§ Mr. GammansIt is too early to say when the next stage of the B.B.C.'s television development programme will be started, but my hon. and gallant Friend will be pleased to hear that when that happens, East Anglia will be given priority.
§ Brigadier MedlicottWhile I much appreciate that information, might I ask my hon. Friend if he can give us any indication at all when it will be possible to start the television station to serve East Anglia?
§ Mr. GammansThe B.B.C. must first get on with their present new programme, but if my hon. and gallant Friend cares to ask me a further Question about progress later in the year I may be able to give him some indication.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsCan the hon. Gentleman give the House any reason why East Anglia should have priority over nine other areas for which there is apparently no television provision in sight? Is the Postmaster-General holding back two frequencies which are available and are intended to be used for commercial television?
§ Mr. GammansI am afraid that the right hon. Gentleman has not understood the Television Advisory Committee's Report if he makes that suggestion. The reason why television priority is being given to East Anglia is that it happens to be the largest single concentration of population not already provided with television.