HC Deb 09 December 1959 vol 615 cc511-2
37. Mr. Mayhew

asked the Postmaster-General what comparative examination he has made of existing systems of pay-as-you-view television.

Mr. Bevins

None, Sir. I have been informed about a number of these systems, but field trials would be necessary to assess their comparative merits.

Mr. Mayhew

But might there not be many advantages in the system if it works, and is it not a good plan to experiment and to examine the system now before we take decisions about the future development of television?

Mr. Bevins

That is one point of view, but a decision on whether a further television programme should take the form of subscription television raises very wide issues of broadcasting policy and, as I have indicated, this would have to be settled before we could take a decision in principle one way or the other.

Sir A. V. Harvey

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that such a system would be less than generous to the Labour Party political broadcasts?