§ 31. Mr. G. Darlingasked the Postmaster-General if he will reduce the television licence fee to viewers living in areas of poor reception until reception of programmes is improved to a reasonably satisfactory standard.
§ Mr. MarplesNo, Sir.
§ Mr. DarlingIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Sheffield, and I suppose in other pants of the country, there are thousands of television viewers who cannot get good reception because of the siting of the transmitters in relation to the surrounding countryside? In Sheffield it is due to the hills. In those circumstances, is it not rather fraudulent to take a full licence fee from people if the Post Office cannot give them a complete service? If the Postmaster-General cannot do anything about reducing the fee, can he improve the service?
§ Mr. MarplesI will certainly try to improve the reception if the hon. Gentleman will give me details of where he does not think it is adequate—
§ Mr. DarlingIn the North-East.
§ Mr. Marples—but it would not be practicable to attempt to adjust television licence fees to reception conditions, since reception differs not only from place to place but from time to time.
§ Mr. DarlingThe Postmaster-General has had hundreds of letters from Sheffield about this matter; and in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I wish to give notice that I shall try to raise the matter on the Adjournment.