HC Deb 23 March 1955 vol 538 cc2050-2
11. Mr. Hobson

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the range of the Independent Television Authority's transmission from Croydon, and the power of the transmitter.

Sir. E. Boyle

I would refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply on 16th March to the hon. and gallant Member for Down, South (Captain Orr).

Mr. Hobson

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the transmitter at Croydon is identical in size with one that has been installed in Rome, which has a radius of only 11kilometres? Is he also aware that in the opinion of very prominent radio engineers in this country the range of the transmitter in Croydon is deemed to be optimistically fantastic?

Sir. E. Boyle

The hon. Gentleman was kind enough to tell me that he was going to raise this point. His view is not shared by the technical officers of the I.T.A. or by Marconi's, who are responsible for installing this transmitter.

Mr. Hobson

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the transmitter in Rome is a Marconi transmitter and that it has a range of only 11 kilometres? The range of the Croydon transmitter is said to be 30 miles.

Sir. E. Boyle

I cannot go further than to give the hon. Gentleman the information at my disposal.

12. Mr. Hobson

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to see that the public and the advertisers have a service of sufficient technical quality commensurate with the sums of money that are being contributed by them and the Treasury.

Sir. E. Boyle

My noble Friend is confident that he can rely on the Independent Television Authority, in their discharge of the responsibilities placed on them by the Television Act, to have full regard to the points made by the hon. Member.

Mr. Hobson

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is anxiety about the real range of this transmitter? If the range is a radius of only 11 kilometres, are we not encouraging people to buy adaptors and to alter their aerials under false pretences? It is not good enough. The facts are known with regard to the transmitter in Rome.

Sir. E. Boyle

There is no question of the public being misled about this matter. The I.T.A. is going on the best technical advice it has, and I really believe that the hon. Gentleman's comments are not valid.

Mr. Shackleton rose

—

Hon. Members

Sit down.

Mr. Shackleton

It is a little distressing, Mr. Speaker, to be told to sit down by anyone except yourself

Mr. Speaker

When I called the next Question, I had not observed that the hon. Member for Preston, South (Mr. Shackleton) rose.

Mr. Shackleton

Cannot the hon. Gentleman take my hon. Friend's Question a good deal more seriously than he has? There is a large body of expert opinion which regards the stated range of the new Croydon transmitter as being completely false and completely unlikely to be obtained? If this is an example of how the new I.T.A. is to work, will he ask his hon. Friend the Assistant Postmaster-General to see whether there are grounds for being satisfied with the technical advice given to the I.T.A.?

Sir. E. Boyle

It is precisely because I did take the hon. Gentleman's Question seriously that I did my best to inform myself on this before answering.

Mr. Ness Edwards

If the hon. Gentleman took the opportunity to inform himself, can he say how many transmitters will be required by the I.T.A. to cover the whole London area and what he is going to do about the aerials?

Sir. E. Boyle

That certainly does not arise out of this Question.