§ 46. Mr. C. Hughesasked the Postmaster-General if he will give an assurance that no second programme television facilities will be given until steps have been taken to provide complete coverage under existing arrangements.
§ Mr. BevinsThis question is one of many which will have to be taken into account before additional television programmes are decided upon, but I can give no specific undertaking now. Meanwhile, both the B.B.C. and I.T.A. are planning to extend their television coverages so far as practicable.
§ Mr. HughesSince there are very many areas in the country which have very poor reception or, in some cases, no reception, will the Postmaster-General make certain that those areas are catered for before other grandiose schemes are entered upon?
§ Mr. BevinsThe existing B.B.C. coverage takes in about 99 per cent. of the population and the I.T.A. coverage takes in about 94 per cent. The B.B.C. aims to go over 99 per cent. and the I.T.A. aims to go up to 98 per cent. The question of a third programme is, of course, bound up with all sorts of technical and wider considerations.