§ 48. Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Postmaster-General which areas of the country have not yet been provided with any television transmission; and what is the total population of such areas.
§ Mr. MarplesMost of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, the East Borders of Scotland, Central Wales and parts of 396 North and South-West Wales, parts of Fermanagh and Tyrone, the Peterborough area and the extreme west of Cornwall, are at present beyond range of television, although within some of these areas there are people receiving signals of varying quality. The total population concerned is about 900,000.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsWill the Postmaster-General refuse to provide a channel for a third programme either to the B.B.C. or the I.T.A., until these areas get at least one programme?
§ Mr. MarplesI quite agree with the importance of these areas getting a programme—and the B.B.C. is pressing ahead as fast as it can—but I should not like to give an undertaking of that nature.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsDo I understand from that reply that the right hon. Gentleman will be considering—sympathetically or otherwise—an application for a third programme in the densely populated areas, to the detriment of those areas which have no programme?
§ Mr. MarplesIf the B.B.C. or I.T.A. asks for a third programme, I shall have to consider it.
§ Mr. WatkinsIs the right hon. Gentleman now in a position to say when Central Wales will get a television programme? It is important for the rural population in that area at least to know something of what is happening in the outside world, in order to stop them leaving the area.
§ Mr. MarplesI agree that it is desirable that people in that part of Wales should know what is happening outside, but I should be grateful if the hon. Member would put down a special Question in respect of any area which he has in mind.