HC Deb 11 November 1953 vol 520 cc930-1
28. Mr. Grey

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if, in view of the shared wavelength between the North-East Coast and Northern Ireland, he will press the need to place the first very high frequency station in the North-East coast area.

Mr. Gammans

This area has already been promised priority.

Mr. Grey

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the people of the North-East are losing their patience over having to endure this business for so long and that that attitude is fully expressed in the correspondence which I and my colleagues from the North-East have received from many organisations? Can we have an assurance that this matter will be speeded up? Can the hon. Gentleman forecast a date?

Mr. Gammans

I cannot forecast a date, but I hope that it falls to my lot to preside at the divorce between the North-East Coast and Northern Ireland.

Mr. Shinwell

Does that mean that we shall have some arrangement made in the next six months? Does the hon. Gentleman mean by his hope that this may be done very soon, or does he mean within the next two or three years?

Mr. Gammans

The first development must be the Television Advisory Committee's advice on the form of modulation which will be used for very high frequency, and they have not given that yet.

Captain Orr

Is my hon. Friend aware that Northern Ireland would welcome the divorce most heartily? As there is no certainty that V.H.F. will solve the problem, would not it be better to abolish the Third Programme?

Mr. Grey

Will this very high frequency station have priority over sponsored television?

Mr. Gammans

That is an entirely different question.

Mr. Shinwell

Yes, but if the North-East, which is a very large area in terms of population, has to choose between sponsored television, which will be very costly and use up a great many resources, and having this matter attended to, surely they would prefer this rather than sponsored television?

Mr. Gammans

It may be that the right hon. Gentleman is right, but it will not fall to the North-East to choose. There is no question of choice. The two things have nothing in common.

Mr. Grey

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment as early as possible.