HC Deb 27 January 1954 vol 522 cc1728-30
19. Sir I. Fraser

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the steps the Government propose to take upon the recent report on very high frequency radio transmissions and the frequency-modulation system.

21. Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing

asked the Assistant Postmaster General if, in view of the fact that the British Broadcasting Corporation' spresent plan to relay existing sound programmes on very high frequencies will cost £3,500,000 of licence money and will cost the public £20 per set if they wish to receive these relays, he will submit the matter to the Television Advisory Committee, or some other expert committee, before coming to a decision.

29. Mr. Grey

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the construction of a station for very high frequency sound broadcasting for the North-East is to commence.

39. Mr. F. Willey

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps are being taken regarding the introduction of very high frequency broadcasting in North-East England.

Mr. Gammans

My noble Friend is considering the recommendation of the Television Advisory Committee that frequency modulation should be adopted for very high frequency sound broadcasting.

Sir I. Fraser

There is another part of the Question, namely whether the Government are considering the use of very high frequencies. That is not quite the same as to say that if they are used frequency modulation will be used on them. Can my hon. Friend answer that part of the Question and give me an assurance for my constituency that if these 50 small local stations are put up Morecambe will be considered, because it has never had good ordinary sound radio?

Mr. Gammans

In this general consideration my noble Friend has to consider not only which form of modulation has to be adopted but the whole question of the V.H.F. broadcasting.

Mr. Orr-Ewing

Is my hon. Friend aware that the Germans have some 70 V.H.F. stations operating and they have introduced this system with very much more economy than is suggested in the B.B.C. £3½ million plan? Could my hon. Friend place a copy of this plan in the Library so that hon. Members on all sides can have a look at it and see whether the plan is being introduced in the most reasonable manner?

Mr. Gammans

That is one of the reasons why my noble Friend is considering this matter further. With regard to the scheme being placed in the Library, I am answering a Question about that later on.

Mr. Grey

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that when the North-East does get a station for very high frequency broadcasting it will mean that the people in the area will have to pay extra money for their wireless sets? Does not he think that one of the wavelengths used for the Third Programme could be better used for the North-East and that the Third Programme should be transmitted on very high frequency?

Mr. Gammans

That is an entirely different Question, but the point raised by the hon. Gentleman about the cost of new sets is one of the matters which we are considering at the moment.

27. Mr. Ness Edwards

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how far the Television Advisory Committee's technical committee were limited in their recommendation on the form of modulation to be adopted, by the needs only of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and excluding the need of universities and like bodies to establish very high frequency broadcasting systems.

Mr. Gammans

The recommendation to adopt frequency modulation applies whether very high frequency broadcasting stations are set up by educational authorities or not.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that in the last part of the final recommendation of the Committee they say that it is based upon a small number of stations, but that, if provision is to be made for universities, that recommendation does not hold the field? Will the Minister take that into account?

Mr. Gammans

Yes, Sir, I will.

Captain Orr

Can my hon. Friend say whether, in view of the continuing failure of F.M. broadcasting in the United States, he will consider making an offer to purchase all the obsolete F.M. sets there for use in this country?

Mr. Gammans

That is a proposition with which I could not possibly agree.