HC Deb 27 January 1954 vol 522 cc1730-2
22. Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General on what waveband the six new television stations will operate; and what will be their power and aerial polarisation.

37. Mr. Fell

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General in what areas the British Broadcasting Corporation propose to erect 2 kilowatt television transmitters; and the areas for which 5 kilowatt television transmitters are proposed.

Mr. Gammans

All six stations will operate on Band I, i.e. between 41 and 68 megacycles per second. The power to be radiated from the permanent station near Norwich will vary with the direction of radiation, with a probable maximum of 15 kilowatts. The power of the other five stations has still to be determined. Horizontal polarisation will be used in each case.

Mr. Orr-Ewing

Does not this reply suggest that the B.B.C.'s application for extra wavelengths in Band III for their first programme was based on false premises?

Mr. Gammans

It was considered at one time that they might have to go into Band III, but now, I am glad to say, they have gone into Band I.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Is it not a fact that the B.B.C. has only been induced to go into Band I as the result of pressure put upon it and that probably a far better picture would be obtained by going into Band III?

Mr. Gammans

The right hon. Gentleman is quite wrong about that. No pressure whatever has been brought to bear on the B.B.C. to go into Band I.

Mr. Fell

Can the Minister say whether, if this transmitter is to operate on Band I, it is necessary to have a temporary transmitter at all? My information is that a transmitter of the required power on Band I could be available more or less at any time that the B.B.C. wants it.

Mr. Gammans

That is not my information. It is usual in all cases to have a stand-by transmitter.

Mr. Hargreaves

In the consideration given to this matter, will it be borne in mind that people living in the area covered by the six stations to which the Minister has referred depend upon V.H.F. for receiving sound radio? At the moment they are neglected, and, therefore, it is a matter of urgency that a decision should be reached.

Mr. Gammans

I am not sure whether I understand the hon. Gentleman aright. We are talking about television, not sound radio.

33. Sir D. Robertson

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if the effective radius of the new Inverness television station will include Caithness and Sutherland.

46. Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what will be the range of the proposed television station at Inverness, and when it is likely to be established.

Mr. Gammans

Until the site, power and frequencies of this station are settled, the B.B.C. cannot say what area will be served, but is unlikely to include any substantial part of Caithness and Sutherland. It is too early to say when the station is likely to be established.

Sir D. Robertson

What is the object of building a station so close to Caithness and Sutherland with a totally inadequate radius? Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the Government are making a big effort to stop de-population, which is the greatest of all Highland problems? Will not the Post Office do something to make it easier for people to live there if they want to?

Mr. Gammans

I have never disguised from the House my belief that we can never give 100 per cent. television coverage and that some parts of the country must necessarily be excluded. I quite accept what the hon. Gentleman says about depopulation, but we could not possibly hope to cover all parts of the country.

Mr. Rankin

Could the Minister tell us if there is any reason why the Inverness station should not cover the rest of the North of Scotland?

Mr. Gammans

Because of the whole question of distance and the limited use of wavelengths.

Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton

Surely a station properly placed in Inverness would go very far to covering the whole of the North of Scotland? Can the Assistant Postmaster-General give some idea when the project is likely to commence, because the news last week was very heartening to the people in the North?

Mr. Gammans

I only announced last week that it was going to be commenced, and I do not think that my noble Friend would expect me to be more specific about the location within a week. As to the area covered by the station, that must depend on where the station is located.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Will the hon. Gentleman consider leaving the Inverness station to commercial enterprise?

Major McCallum

Does the Assistant Postmaster-General think that, in spite of the mountain ranges, when this station is established North Argyll will be covered by it?

Mr. Gammans

I should doubt it very much.