§ 20. Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Postmaster-General whether he has now decided when he will authorise the expenditure by the British Broadcasting Corporation of the money for provision of television and very high-frequency broadcasting services in the Western Isles; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BevinsI have been considering the B.B.C.'s plans for the second stage of their satellite station scheme and I expect to be able to say something about them very shortly.
§ Mr. MacMillanMay I thank the right hon. Gentleman for introducing a new note of hope into the reply which we have been getting for the last few years that we could not be given any sort of starting date? Can the right hon. Gentleman give any estimate—for example, whether it will be 1961 or 1962 —so that the B.B.C. can do what it wants to do, that is, plan ahead and order equipment?
§ Mr. BevinsI hope to make a full statement on the matter later this week, when I think the hon. Member and his Scottish friends will be pleased by what I say.