HC Deb 27 March 1957 vol 567 c1135
15. Mr. Woof

asked the Postmaster-General how many wireless receiving licences are in force in Northumberland and Durham; and what estimate he has made as to the number of receiving sets involved which are capable of receiving very high frequency broadcasts.

Mr. K. Thompson

On 31st December, 1956, there were 599,082 current licences. They comprised 363,496 licences for sound only and 235,586 for television and sound. No statistics are available which would enable me to make an estimate of the number of receiving sets which are capable of receiving very high frequency broadcasts in those areas.

Mr. Blenkinsop

Would it not be worth while for the Post Office to make some inquiry about this to find out for itself what number of V.H.F. sets there are available, because one's general impression is that the numbers are, in fact, very small? In view of that, will the hon. Gentleman take some action and not just sit back and do nothing?

Mr. Thompson

We have information that there are about 600,000 V.H.F. sets in use in the country as a whole. The Question relates to those in use in the North-East of England, and it has not been possible to get a breakdown into the different areas of the country as to where the sets are likely to be.