HC Deb 06 May 1953 vol 515 cc384-6
60. Mr. Ness Edwards

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether the current investment programme of Her Majesty's Government permits the British Broadcasting Corporation to proceed with the completion of the erection of low-power stations and the development of very high frequency.

69. Sir L. Plummer

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what planning investment or other restrictions are placed by Her Majesty's Government on the development by the British Broadcasting Corporation of television broadcasting.

Mr. Gammans

The extension of television broadcasting to new areas has hitherto been held up on the instructions of the Government on capital investment grounds. This matter is now being reviewed and an announcement will be made shortly.

The question of v.h.f. must await the decisions taken when the Television Advisory Committee has reported on this point.

Mr. Edwards

I take it that there will be no holding of the B.B.C. back in this matter in order to give advantage to the commercial friends of hon. Members opposite?

Mr. Gammans

I shall be dealing with that question later on.

Sir H. Roper

While I have no desire to delay the development of television, will my hon. Friend impress on the B.B.C. that 60 per cent. of the farms in this country have no electricity and cannot, therefore, receive television, and that for them it is far more important that there should be satisfactory sound reception than television?

Mr. Gammans

The question of provision of electricity is something for which neither the B.B.C. nor I have responsibility.

Mr. Bowen

Will the hon. Gentleman remind the Corporation that they still have not provided an efficient sound service, nor any television service, throughout a large area in West Wales?

Mr. Gammans

That I think is true, but I do not think it comes within the ambit of this Question.

61. Mr. Ness Edwards

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether the present financial resources of the British Broadcasting Corporation are adequate for the completion of the low-power station programme and the development of very high frequency during the present financial year.

Mr. Gammans

I understand that if prices remain reasonably stable, the Corporation's resources are at present sufficient to complete the five permanent low-power television stations, but in any case the work could not be finished in the present financial year.

Mr. Hector Hughes

If the resources of the B.B.C. are sufficient for that purpose, why cannot the Postmaster-General provide a television service for Aberdeen, a most important city?

Mr. Gammans

The erection of the Aberdeen station, as the hon. and learned Member will remember, was held up by the previous Government and that policy has been maintained, up to now at any rate, by the present Government.

63. Mr. Ness Edwards

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will give an assurance that the British Broadcasting Corporation will be given freedom from restrictions to develop adequate sound and television broadcasting, including very high frequency, before any licence is issued for commercial stations.

Mr. Gammans

The development of both B.B.C. services and commercial television must always be subject to the amount of capital resources which the Government feel justified from time to time in devoting to this form of entertainment. As regards priorities, there is no change in the Government policy as set out in the White Paper on Broadcasting (Cmd. 8550).

Mr. Edwards

Do we understand from that reply that no commercial licences will be granted this year?

Mr. Gammans

No, I cannot give that assurance, but from the assurances given in the White Paper that the B.B.C. should have the first claim on resources, I should imagine that that is a fair deduction.

70. Sir L. Plummer

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the nature of the development programme of the British Broadcasting Corporation for the current year.

Mr. Gammans

The programme approved for 1953 includes further work on the low-power sound broadcasting stations provided to improve coverage; temporary television stations at Pontop Pike and Belfast; and improvements in studios and in equipment.