HC Deb 27 March 1957 vol 567 cc1133-5
13. Mr. Randall

asked the Postmaster-General if he will arrange for Droitwich, Postwick, Lisnagarvey and Londonderry to broadcast on 276 metres so that Stagshaw and Scarborough may have the exclusive use of 261 metres.

17. Mr. Ainsley

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange for one of the West Region's medium wavelengths to be transferred to the North-East of England.

29. Mr. Willey

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange for the Welsh and Scottish Regions to share a wavelength during the next twelve years so that a wavelength may be thereby released for the North-East of England.

34. Mr. Grey

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make arrangements for Stagshaw to broadcast on 276 metres, by arranging for the Midland and Welsh Regions to share on 341 metres.

Mr. K. Thompson

No, Sir. Stagshaw and Scarborough sharing with Lisnagarvey and Londonderry is the best arrangement that can be made in the general interest.

Mr. Randall

That Answer was not unexpected. But is the hon. Gentleman aware that just over half the licence holders in the two major counties of the North-East are demanding a return of their wavelength, and, in view of this persistent agitation and the lowering of the standard of the programme in that part of the country, will he not reconsider this matter?

Mr. Thompson

What I have to say on this point covers all these Questions, that any rearrangement of the medium wave-length available to us would result in a large number of people being subjected to less than perfect reception. Taking the national interest as a whole and aiming at the greatest advantage for the greatest number of people, this is the best arrangement that can be made.

Mr. Willey

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that we all realise that it is desirable to have this mush over the Irish Sea. but cannot we have a Welsh and Scottish mush for a change?

Mr. Gower

In my hon. Friend's resistance to the proposal in Question No. 34, will he be sustained by the recollection that the separate language and culture of Wales has been recognised by the provision of a separate Broadcasting Council and separate broadcasting facilities for Wales?

Mr. Thompson

We try to take all these factors into consideration.

Mr. Grey

Would it not be a good idea, so far as we are concerned, to have a rearrangement for a limited period? I am not, like my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey), going to be so cruel as to suggest twelve years, but I would suggest that if it happened that everyone had to "enjoy" this abomination for a few more months there would be such a campaign against it that we would have our own wavelength back?

Mr. Thompson

It is perfectly well recognised that there are difficulties in any two stations sharing a wavelength of this kind. In order to meet them, we are facing a problem which is common to the countries of the whole of Europe. We are developing V.H.F. broadcasting, as other countries are, and we are in front of most of them. I hope that the people of the North-East will live to thank the B.B.C. and the Post Office for what they are doing in that respect.

Mr. C. R. Hobson

Does the hon. Gentleman not think that it would be to the advantage if discussions were entered into with the American Forces Network with a view to the allocation of one of its wavelengths, because I believe that it has three or four at the moment? Could not one of these be obtained for use for the North-East Coast and has that approach been considered?

Mr. Thompson

We have considered that and a number of other approaches. I will deal with the main burden of the hon. Member's supplementary question in reply to Question No. 14.