§ 17. Mr. Hargreavesasked the Assistant Postmaster-General, in view of the general complaint of poor radio reception in the Carlisle area, what steps are being taken to improve the service.
§ Mr. GammansI regret that, in common with some other parts of the United Kingdom, the Carlisle area cannot be given improved service on the existing medium and long wavelengths. The Government have approved in principle the use of very high frequencies for sound broadcasting, and the B.B.C. will be free to make a start as soon as the system of modulation has been decided.
§ Mr. HargreavesIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that that statement is a confession of failure, that this particular region is denied the reception of the Home Service and the Third Programme, and will he give a date when this region can expect the reception which is accorded to licence holders in other parts of the country?
§ Mr. GammansI hope the hon. Gentleman will not say it is a confession of failure, but merely a confession that this country, under international agreements, has not got all the wavelengths it would like to have. I do hope it will be possible to start very high frequency before too long. I think that is the only satisfactory solution to the difficulty in the Carlisle area.