HC Deb 31 July 1962 vol 664 cc388-9
12. and 13. Mr. Grimond

asked the Postmaster-General (1) when it is intended that television will be available in Shetland;

(2) what steps are being taken to improve radio reception in Orkney and Shetland.

Mr. Bevins

The B.B.C. hopes to open its television and V.H.F. sound station for Shetland, which I authorised in the second stage of its satellite station scheme, before the end of 1963. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, Orkney receives good sound reception from the B.B.C.'s V.H.F. sound station there. The I.T.A. has in mind the needs of these and other areas in drawing up tentative plans for completing its coverage.

Mr. Grimond

I thank the Minister for confirming that the plans already made will stand. Do I understand that I.T.A. also has plans now for serving at least Orkney? If the Shetland station is to be completed by 1963, when may we expect the work to start?

Mr. Bevins

I have made inquiries of I.T.A. and I know that when drawing up plans it has in mind the needs of this area. I do not think I can give a date off the cuff for the actual start of the work, but I assure the right hon. Gentleman that the Shetland station will be finished before the end of 1963.

Mr. John MacLeod

Did the right hon. Gentleman say what area this will cover and whether a link will be supplied for the area in the Outer Isles which will serve the western seaboard of Scotland?

Mr. Bevins

Regarding the Western Isles, the B.B.C. hopes to open the stations which I have already authorised for Lewis and Skye by the middle of 1964. Until those stations are working, and we know their effective range, it is not possible to decide whether further stations should be located in the Western Isles.

Sir Harmar Nicholls

Does the statement in the recently issued White Paper mean that, if the rest of the channel 3 frequencies are handed over, all the fringe areas will be covered and not only the Western Isles?

Mr. Bevins

I do not think I can go quite that far, but it certainly means that we shall utilise the remaining unused frequencies in band 3 to help the areas to get good reception.

Sir Harmar Nicholls

Even the Soke of Peterborough?