HC Deb 09 December 1959 vol 615 cc508-9
30. Mr. Ainsley

asked the Postmaster-General what steps are being taken to improve television reception in Wear-dale, County Durham.

Mr. Bevins

Weardale is one of many small areas where reception is poor because of the lie of the land. I understand that the B.B.C. will bear in mind the needs of Weardale in planning further stations.

The I.T.A. has not yet completed its main network and it tells me that it cannot yet make firm plans for filling gaps in its coverage.

Mr. Ainsley

Is the Postmaster-General aware that this is not a small area confined to Weardale? It also touches the Teesdale area, where there are a great number of villages and where industry still prevails. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, apart from the annual licence, people in the area pay an annual fee to a private company and also 2s. or 2s. 6d. a week so that they may have reasonable reception? Will he seek to remove this anomaly, otherwise I shall have to bring these people into the London area to obtain social justice or Tory freedom?

Mr. Bevins

I referred to Weardale in my Answer because the Question in turn referred to Weardale, but, short of building a new transmitter, there is no way in which the B.B.C. could improve reception in the area generally. I believe that I.T.A. is likely to start very soon on building a new station in Carlisle which it believes may well help reception in that area.

Mr. P. Williams

Is my right hon. Friend aware that people in County Durham generally are extremely pleased that they now see twice as many programmes as they did ten years ago?