HC Deb 22 May 1957 vol 570 cc1209-13
30. Mr. Willey

asked the Postmaster-General what consultations; he has had with the British Broadcasting Corporation regarding the wavelength shared between North-Eastern England and Northern Ireland.

31. Mr. Woof

asked the Postmaster-General what consultations he has had with the Director-General of the British Broadcasting Corporation since 1st April, 1957, concerning complaints made by hon. Members from the North-East of England about the sharing of the wavelength.

Mr. Marples

Full consultation has taken place with the B.B.C. regarding any possible re-arrangement of medium wavelengths which would make it unnecessary for North-East England and Northern Ireland to share. The most recent consultations were in March of this year, following the debate on the Adjournment on 25th February. It was agreed that the present arrangements were the best that could be devised in the general interest, and this was confirmed in a further review which I made in connection with Questions on 10th April from the hon. Members for Newcastle-on-Tyne, Central (Mr. Short) and for Durham (Mr. Grey).

Mr. Willey

While appreciating the right hon. Gentleman's reply to the effect that these consultations have taken place, may I ask him, in view of the melancholy conclusion, if he will resume these conversations and pursue them further?

Mr. Marples

I do not think there is any point in doing so unless and until we get more medium wavelengths, which is highly improbable.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

Is it not a fact that of all the wavelengths this one suffers less than any other from foreign interference?

Mr. Marples

It is perfectly true. Some of the wavelengths that we operate in this country, particularly in Wales, are subject to a great deal of interference from East Germany, but this particular wavelength, which the North-East enjoys and on which it has 90 per cent, of its own programmes, is the finest we have.

Mr. D. Jones

As the right hon. Gentleman says that what is required is additional wavelengths, will he say what steps he proposes taking to secure additional wavelengths?

Mr. Marples

There are no more to have. They are all allocated to foreign countries. We can only obtain an additional wavelength if we take it from another country. If the whole thing were thrown into the melting pot, it is highly probable that we should have less than we have now.

36. Mr. Short

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will terminate the appointment of the Director General of the British Broadcasting Corporation because of the failure of the Corporation to provide an adequate regional service in the North-East of England.

Mr. Marples

No, Sir. The appointment of the Director General is a matter for the Corporation.

Mr. Short

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that we hold both him and the Director General responsible for this regrettable state of affairs in the North-East, and is it not quite obvious to him, as it is to everyone else, that the B.B.C. has dug in its toes and refuses to do anything about it? Does he realise that we are about fed up with this in the North-East and that we want a clean sweep, either of the B.B.C. or the Post Office, or both?

Mr. Marples

The hon. Gentleman may hold me personally responsible, but by Statute it is not me; it is the responsibility of the Corporation to appoint a Director General. It is not my responsibility and I am only responsible for what I control.

Dame Irene Ward

Would my right hon. Friend kindly point out to hon. Gentlemen opposite that it was in 1948 that they surrendered our wavelength to an international convention which was brought into force in 1950, and that if they are fed up, as I am, with a shared wavelength, we are fed up with them for trying to put the blame on us.

Mr. Marples

My hon. Friend, in her usual trenchant manner, has put her finger on the heart of the problem; I was trying to be tactful.

Mr. Shinwell

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that 1948 is almost as ancient as the hon. Lady opposite?

Hon. Members

Shame. Withdraw.

Dame Irene Ward

Do not worry about me.

Mr. Shinwell

I withdraw the word "ancient" in preference for the word "antiquated."

Dame Irene Ward

I think that it is awfully funny.

Mr. Shinwell

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to inform the House who is the representative on the Advisory Committee for the North-East and who appointed him and why hon. Members who are associated with the North-East were not consulted in a matter so important?

Mr. Marples

That is another Question, but I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that the North-East is represented on this Council.

Dame Irene Ward

Mr. Mann is the name.

Mr. Farey-Jones

Will not my right hon. Friend confirm that this is a storm in a teacup? If new wavelengths were allocated to Northern Ireland and North-East England in the present circumstances, would they not be subject to continuous and constant interference from foreign stations?

Mr. Marples

That is true. The North-East of England already has the best medium wavelength in this country.

Mr. C. R. Hobson

Whatever has gone on in the past, does the right hon. Gentleman not think it is time to review the position in regard to the allocation of wavelengths in view of the advent of the American Forces Network in Germany, which is itself operating on medium wavelengths? They have increased their number of wavelengths in the last six years, and does he not think that, prima facie, there is a case for reviewing this important matter again, and will he consider doing so?

Mr. Marples

The only answer to this problem is V.H.F. I am sure that if there were another international meeting on the allocation of medium wavelengths we should come out worse than we are now. It would pay us to keep what we have rather than to have fewer medium wavelengths.

37. Mr. Short

asked the Postmaster-General what technical considerations prevent the sharing of a British Broadcasting Corporation regional programme by any two regions other than the North-East and Northern Ireland.

Mr. Marples

I would refer the hon. Member to my supplementary reply by my hon. Friend the Assistant Postmaster-General to the hon. Member for Gateshead, West (Mr. Randall) on 27th March. There is no escaping the fact that any other sharing arrangement would cause greater interference with reception.

Mr. Short

We know all about the mush area, but surely Northern Ireland and the North-East of England have shared this wavelength since 1945 and if, as the right hon. Gentleman says, it is impossible to get another medium wavelength, would it not be just and equitable to allow the two other areas to share it? If Scotland and Wales shared it, the mush area would fall over the Irish Sea. If the Western Region has two wavelengths why cannot the two other areas share it for the the next twelve months?

Mr. Marples

There are two reasons. So far as Wales is concerned, the medium wavelength that it has is subject to a considerable amount of interference from East Germany, which is making it difficult for the Welsh people to listen in at all. The North-East area has the best wavelength of all. If there were a reallocation, the North-East Coast, which has less than 10 per cent, of news and items of interest from Ireland, would not have such good reception. It would mean that many hundreds of thousands of people would have no reception at all.

Mrs. McLaughlin

Is it not a fact that an adequate V.H.F. service is available both to Northern Ireland and North-East England listeners, which is not shared, and carries programmes of local interest?

Mr. Marples

The answer is V.H.F., and the North-East Coast has its own V.H.F. service which is not shared by Northern Ireland.

Mr. Short

On a point of order. I should like to ask your advice, Mr. Speaker. How can hon. Members who represent constituencies in the North-East get their grievances redressed? We have been at it for years and we cannot get any satisfaction, either from this public Corporation or from the Ministry. How are we to do it? Can you give us any advice?

Mr. Speaker

I cannot advise the hon. Member on that. It is frequently the case that Members do not get it all their own way. For that state of affairs I am afraid there is no remedy.