HC Deb 20 March 1957 vol 567 cc367-9
16. Mr. Grey

asked the Postmaster-General what proposals he is considering for the provision of a separate wavelength for listeners to the British Broadcasting Corporation in the North-East.

Mr. Marples

The international allocation of medium wavelengths to the British Broadcasting Corporation is insufficient to provide separate medium wavelengths for the stations at Stagshaw, near Newcastle and Lisnagarvey, near Belfast. However, a very high frequency station at Pontop Pike was opened in December, 1955, and listeners to this have available the North of England Home Service with special items for the North-East.

Mr. Grey

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many people cannot afford to buy these new V.H.F. sets and, therefore, are not able to enjoy this facility? Would not it be a good idea to call another international conference similar to that which took place in 1948 to consider the allocation of medium wavelengths? Perhaps by that method we could obtain another wavelength which could be given to the North-East.

Mr. Marples

I think it highly improbable that this country would get an extra medium wavelength, because in 1948 we were allocated one less than we asked for and since then the number of medium wavelength transmissions have increased two-fold. Therefore, I think that highly improbable. Most European countries and this country are turning to V.H.F. as a solution to the limitations imposed by the general shortage of medium wavelengths. That is why special priority was given to the North-East in establishing one of the first V.H.F. stations.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the response of listeners to the new V.H.F. has been meagre? Will the B.B.C. do something to popularise V.H.F. reception, since apparently it is the only way by which the North-East can get decent listening?

Mr. Marples

I will see that that suggestion is passed on. However, some of the existing sets can be converted to V.H.F. reception. It is not necessary to buy a new V.H.F. set.

Mr. Grey

At what cost?

Mr. Marples

At very small cost. I can say that because long before I took my present appointment I had my own set converted to V.H.F.

Mr. Short

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain why the Western Region has two wavelengths and why we in the North-East cannot have one of them when we have not one of our own? If it is not possible for the Western Region to give up one, why cannot two other regions share for the next twelve years, for we in the North-East have been sharing for twelve years, and surely it is fair that somebody else should take a turn at sharing?

Mr. Marples

The difficulty is that when two stations broadcast over the same medium wavelength there is an area in between which receives extremely bad reception, which is, I think, technically called "mush." That area between the stations in the North-East and in Belfast is in the Irish Sea, where it does very little harm.

Mr. Short

In view of the unsatisfactory reply, I give notice that we shall raise this matter again, and that we shall go on raising it until the Postmaster-General does something about it.