HC Deb 20 March 1957 vol 567 cc371-3
23. Mr. Grimond

asked the Postmaster-General what steps are being taken to bring television to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland; and what areas will be covered.

Mr. Marples

The B.B.C. is considering what further extensions of its television service can be planned beyond the 98 per cent. population coverage which it will achieve about the end of this year. The needs of the Highland and Islands and of other areas are in mind, but it is too early yet to say what may be practicable.

Mr. Grimond

Will the Postmaster-General bear in mind that it may be too early for him but it is getting late for the Highlands and Islands where sound reception is very bad in some parts? Is he aware that we are most anxious to know when we may expect either better sound or television or both?

Mr. Marples

I agree that reception in the Highlands is bad and unsatisfactory. I went there myself recently. But the hon. Member must remember that even if financial considerations were out of it and finances were unlimited there would still be technical difficulties. With the mountains in this area, V.H.F. is not easy to get across.

Mr. J. MacLeod

Do I take it that there are no plans whatever for television in the north-west Highlands?

Mr. Marples

I was only pointing out the difficulties of giving the service to the Highlands.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that no part of the country shall have three pictures before other parts have one?

Mr. Marples

One would have to take all these factors into account. It would be wrong if some parts of the country had an unlimited service while places in the Highlands had none at all, but I should not like to make any specific commitment at this stage.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Do we understand from what the hon. Gentleman has said that the kites which are being flown for a third transmission in London are to take precedence over the North-West and Scotland?

Mr. Marples

That would be an unwarranted assumption.

Mr. Fell

Is not it a fact that the B.B.C. really has some duty in this connection to provide not 98 per cent. but possibly 100 per cent. coverage for television, particularly since it is getting, as a result of the popularity of the I.T.A., an increased revenue for itself and it really ought to spend some of that revenue?

Mr. Marples

When the B.B.C. has provided 98 per cent, of coverage, which is its first objective, it wants to do two things. First, it wants to provide fill-up stations for places within the general coverage area where reception is inadequate, such as Peterborough and Berwick. Secondly, it wants to extend the service to those places, like the Highlands and islands, to which the original Question referred.