§ 47. Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that television has been received in Inverness and even in Shetland, he will strengthen the power of the existing and proposed stations to cover the whole Highland area.
§ Mr. GammansI understand that strengthening the power of the existing and proposed stations would not solve this very difficult problem of serving the Highland area.
§ Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonIs it not clear from the fact that television has been received in Inverness and Shetland and in many places in the Western Highlands that perhaps more could be achieved by strengthening the power than has originally been supposed? Will my hon. Friend also bear in mind that the providing of this facility may prove a very potent factor in retaining population in the Highlands?
§ Mr. GammansMy noble Friend must not take freak reception as normal reception. Programmes from Alexandra Palace have in fact been received in South Africa. The difficulty in the Highlands is that it is an exceedingly mountainous area and the mere strengthening of power of a station would not serve to give reception in the valleys.