§ 26. Mr. Mayhewasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action he is taking to increase the power of 992 British Broadcasting Corporation transmitters broadcasting to Africa and Asia.
Dr. HillA new and powerful transmitter in Africa is now relaying B.B.C. programmes. Two new transmitters have just come into operation in this country, and eight more are on order. We are now considering, with the B.B.C., plans for improving the reception of their programmes in Central Africa and in Asia.
§ Mr. MayhewWill the Minister say how this situation arose? For some time now the content of these broadcasts has been good, but the quality of transmission has been very bad. Is he aware that even now the American Government have ten times our transmitting facilities?
Dr. HillThe hon. Member should not forget that there has been recently, and there is now, a steady improvement in the power of the transmission of these programmes, and secondly, that there has now come into operation the most powerful transmitter in the world in the form of Berbera, which is transmitting Arabic, General Overseas and Swahili programmes.