§ 12 and 13. Brigadier Medlicottasked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) if work has actually started on the construction and assembly of the equipment for the East Anglian television station
§ (2) if the site of the projected East Anglian television station has yet been decided on;and what is expected to be the area that it will effectively cover.
§ The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr.David Gammans)I am glad to inform my hon. and gallant Friend that authority has now been given to the B.B.C. to set up a station to serve East Anglia, and also five other stations not covered by the present programme, i.e., at Dover, Inverness, Londonderry, Towyn and Carlisle. The Corporation intends to acquire a site for the East Anglia station some 10 miles south-west of Norwich, and hopes to provide a temporary transmitter within 12 months to serve Norwich and its immediate surroundings. The permanent transmitter which will be set up later is expected to serve most of East Anglia not covered by the London station.
§ Brigadier MedlicottWhile thanking my hon. Friend for this much better news than we have had for some time, may I ask him whether the B.B.C. will bear in mind the difficulties of sound reception in this area and whether this also can be improved by that time, if not sooner?
§ Mr. GammansYes, Sir. The B.B.C. will certainly do that; but that aspect was not covered by the Question.