Colour Television (Hansard, 19 April 1961)

§ 43. Mr. Dodds
asked the Postmaster-General what progress has now been made in introducing colour television; what are the prospects in the near future; and what are the main obstacles.

§ Mr. Bevins
The B.B.C. test transmissions in colour are to continue, and I hope they will help our manufacturers to develop a reliable and less expensive colour receiver which will not require an imported picture tube.
With regard to the latter part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer in the House on 14th 1165 December last. The B.B.C. has recently re-opened the matter and I will naturally consider what it says.

§ Mr. Dodds
Whilst appreciating the right hon. Gentleman's difficulty in saying anything in view of the discussions which are taking place, may I ask whether he is not aware that there is a great deal of dissatisfaction with the present position in that there are many who feel that he is pandering unnecessarily to the interests of commercial television? If that is not so, would he say so? Does not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that many people would like colour television, that it would transform life for many people who are home-bound, and that it would be a great social advance?

§ Mr. Bevins
There is no question of my pandering to the Independent Television Authority—none whatever. The position is that the B.B.C. put its proposals to me towards the end of last year for experimental colour services. I turned them down, I think in January of this year, chiefly on the ground that I take the view that the question of line definition should be settled before the question of colour. The B.B.C. desires to reopen the matter now, and I will consider what it has to say.

§ Mr. Mason
If line definition is the determining factor, why does not the right hon. Gentleman agree to allowing the B.B.C. to have a pilot scheme so that it can, even if it is on 405 lines instead of 625, gain more practical experience of production and reception?

§ Mr. Bevins
That would be a mistake. Once an experimental system of 405 lines were allowed, one would be bound to create a demand for sets which in three or four years' time might well become quite obsolete.