HC Deb 19 November 1953 vol 520 c1887
20. Mr. Mayhew

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will grant a licence for the import from the United States of America of blab-off switches into this country.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I have not yet received any application for a licence to import blab-off switches from the United States. If one were submitted, the Board of Trade would consider whether the expenditure of dollars was justified.

Mr. Mayhew

Is the Minister aware that this popular device, which enables American viewers to switch off television advertisers' announcements, may soon become indispensable in this country? Is it fair that the Government should import the bad features of American television and prohibit the rest of us from importing the good ones?

Mr. Thorneycroft

Without expressing any view upon the hypothesis which the hon. Gentleman puts forward, I would not have thought that the manufacture of blab-off switches was beyond the wit of British engineers.

Colonel Harrison

Will my right hon. Friend acknowledge the public-spirited action of the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Mayhew) who recognises that there will be a very large number of viewers who would prefer to see his handsome features silent rather than vocal?

Mr. Strachey

Does not the Minister think that we should find these switches very useful in this House?