§ 19. Sir D. Robertsonasked the Assistant Postmaster-General if, in the selection of a site for television at Aberdeen, he will arrange for it to be so sited 364 on high ground that favourable reception will be obtainable on the north coast of the Moray Firth.
§ Mr. GammansI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 1st July. The B.B.C. has selected a site on high ground and in a location that will enable the television station to serve as many people as possible.
§ Sir D. RobertsonThat answer does not indicate whether the north coast of the Moray Firth will be served. Can my hon. Friend assure the House that that will be the case and that the highest site has been chosen for television in this area?
§ Mr. GammansOn the information at present available from the B.B.C. they do not think that the north coast of the Moray Firth will be within the coverage area.
§ Sir D. RobertsonDoes my hon. Friend realise that the main justification for a monopoly such as the B.B.C. is to give universal service and that there will be resentment in Scotland if the Highland area, which is regarded with great affection there, is cut out without every effort being made to overcome the difficulties?
§ Mr. GammansI can understand hon. Members who represent constituencies which are outside the coverage area feeling resentment, but I must point out to the House today, as I did last week, that there are certain parts of the United Kingdom—incidentally very small parts—which can only be served at a cost quite disproportionate to what this country can conceivably afford.
§ Mr. HobsonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that it is not the B.B.C. monopoly which prevents coverage but the limits placed by the Government on capital investment?
§ Mr. GammansIt is not so much that, but it is a question of whether this country would be justified, at a most disproportionate cost, in providing television for certain outlying parts of the country.