HC Deb 27 March 1957 vol 567 cc1128-32
9. Mr. Grey

asked the Postmaster General when the North-East will be allocated a wavelength separately from Northern Ireland.

Mr. K. Thompson

As regards a medium wavelength, I am afraid there is nothing that I can usefully add to what my right hon. Friend said following the hon. Gentleman's Question of 20th March. The North-East, of course, already has a wavelength separate from Northern Ireland in the V.H.F. service.

Mr. Grey

Is the hon. Member aware that when this arrangement was made in 1945 it was explained by the B.B.C. that it was a necessary measure, although it deplored it, and that it was only temporary? That was twelve years ago. Since then we have been asked to share a wave-length with an area whose interests and culture are quite different from ours. Is the Minister aware that the people of the North-East now regard this matter as an abomination because they are paying for something which they are not getting?

Mr. Thompson

I have had the opportunity of replying to some of the points made by the hon. Member in a recent Adjournment debate. We are aware that the position is less satisfactory than the people in the North of England would like, but it is the best we can do with the resources available.

10. Mr. Grey

asked the PostmasterGeneral if he will give an estimate of the number of people who have very high frequency wireless sets in the North-East.

Mr. K. Thompson

No statistics are available which would enable me to make such an estimate.

Mr. Grey

Is the hon. Member using this very high frequency facility as an excuse for not giving us our own wave-length? If so, may I ask him how far he is in conflict with the Government, in view of the fact that V.H.F. equipment is found only in new sets and that the hire-purchase restrictions placed upon them mean that people cannot afford to buy them? I suggest that the Minister might be able to do something more in regard to the medium wavelength.

Mr. Thompson

The days of my being in conflict with the Government came to an end when I came to the Front Bench. The quality of the Government improved to such an extent at that time. The fact is that because of the difficulties of medium wave broadcasting, with which we are all familiar, the only way out is by extending and relying more upon the use of V.H.F. broadcasting and receiving.

Mr. Popplewell

In view of the Minister's remark that the days when he was in conflict with the Government ended when he came to the Front Bench, will he have another look at himself and see if he cannot enter into conflict once more with his colleagues on behalf of this common justice claim by the people of the North-East? Very high frequency transmission is not the answer in this area. Will he again consider the question of a separate wavelength? [Interruption.] For twelve years the North-East has endured difficulties——

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member is now making statements. He is not asking a question.

Mr. Popplewell

Is the Minister aware of the difficulty, and of the intense feeling which exists among people in the North-East, with regard to this shared wave-length? Will he not now rearrange the wavelengths so as to allow some other area to share, and let the North-East have a fair do?

Mr. Thompson

As a number of later Questions make various suggestions about alternative sharing arrangements, I think that I should deal with them when they come up.

12. Mr. Short

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will introduce a lower wireless licence fee for listeners in the North-East of England and in Northern Ireland, in view of the fact that they are required to share a single regional programme.

Mr. K. Thompson

No, Sir.

Mr. Short

Is it not unjust that the people of the North-East and Northern Ireland should have to pay the same licence fee as people in other regions when half the time they have to switch off the Home Service because—as far as we are concerned—the programme from Northern Ireland is incomprehensible.

Mr. Thompson

The broadcasting receiving licence covers the installation and use of wireless receiving apparatus. It is not related in any way either to the amount of use that the individual makes of his set or to the quality of the reception. We try to get the quality as good as it can be all over the country.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

Would my hon. Friend say what volume of complaint has been received from Northern Ireland, or are listeners there more tolerant about other people's cultures?

Mr. Thompson

I think that it would be unwise for me to enter into a discussion on the relative tolerance of different parts of Britain.

14. Mr. Woof

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to convene an international conference so that another wavelength may be made available for the North-East of England.

Mr. K. Thompson

None, Sir. As explained to the hon. Member for Durham (Mr. Grey) on 20th March, it is highly improbable that an extra medium wave-length would be forthcoming from such a conference. At the 1948 conference we got one less than we asked for, and since then the number of medium wave transmitters in Europe has doubled.

Mr. Grey

May I ask the hon. Gentleman to reconsider this matter? I am sure that there would be a way out of the problem if there were an international conference to reconsider the whole matter. It is twelve years since the war and there is a chance that someone might give us a wavelength to ease our burden.

Mr. Thompson

I will bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman says.

16. Mr. Ainsley

asked the Postmaster-General on what date the decision was made to link together the British Broadcasting Corporation's broadcasts from the North-East of England and Northern Ireland; and on what date the arrangement came into force.

Mr. K. Thompson

The arrangement for North-East England and Northern Ireland to share a wavelength was decided on at the end of the war. It came into effect on 29th July, 1945, when the Regional services were resumed.

Mr. Ainsley

Is my hon. Friend aware that the long-suffering people in the North-East have very little interest in "News of the North" and that many of them used to enjoy "News of the North" more when they sat with their headphones on tickling the cat's whisker in order that they might hear the local news rather than the programmes that they are now being asked to endure?

Mr. Thompson

We are very much aware of all this, as I think I have already indicated, and it is our belief that a separate wavelength on the V.H.F. service will provide the answer to all the problems.

Mr. Shinwell

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the long-suffering people in the North-East are not going to suffer very much longer and that if he is not careful they will stage a revolt against the Government which might force them to resign? Will he be good enough to say what is the intellectual affinity between Northern Ireland and the North-East of England, because, so far as I know, there is none?

Mr. Thompson

I am sure that those responsible will take due notice of the threats embodied in the earlier part of the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. I do not propose at this stage to embark on a discussion on the intellectual affinity that may exist between any two parts of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that both his predecessors in office and himself have relied on V.H.F. to solve these problems, and is it not obvious by now that it is no solution of the problems? In view of this experience, will he have consultation with the B.B.C. with a view to trying to make some rearrangement in the medium wave band?

Mr. Thompson

I am sure that my right hon. Friend will look at this with the greatest possible care, but I cannot hold out a lot of hope of any solution other than along V.H.F. lines.

Mr. Grey

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the replies to all the Questions that I have asked, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.

32. Mr. Hyde

asked the Postmaster-General how long he expects the Northern Ireland Regional station will continue to operate on a shared wavelength.

Mr. K. Thompson

I cannot foresee any change in the present arrangement regarding the shared medium wavelength. The V.H.F. station at Divis has its own wavelength.

Mr. Hyde

As the Northern Ireland Region was originally allocated a separate wavelength over thirty years ago and now has to share it with the North-Eastern Region, will not my hon. Friend agree that as Ulster listeners are getting only half a wavelength for their money they should not be called upon to pay more than half fees for their wireless licences?

Mr. Thompson

I think I should draw the attention of the House to the fact that out of all the hours of broadcasting in any one week only between nine and ten hours belong to the Northern Ireland Region and between nine and ten belong to the Northern Region. It seems to me to be as good an arrangement as we can get in the time available.