HC Deb 22 May 1962 vol 660 cc203-4
9. Mr. Cleaver

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will allocate a frequency for the Emergency Radio Communications Service which is being pioneered in Birmingham by the Industrial Police Association.

Mr. Bevins

A two-frequency channel was assigned to this service in 1959. I am sorry that I cannot allot a channel to the service for their exclusive use because the demand for channels in the Birmingham area is so heavy.

Mr. Cleaver

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the channel which he has allocated is used by taxi firms and bulldozer contractors who carry on very long conversations which render the channel quite unsuitable for security purposes? In view of the satisfactory way in which the scheme started originally, ought not he to do something about it and go even further to try to extend it all over the country?

Mr. Bevins

I think there is a little misunderstanding here, because an exclusive channel does not guarantee secrecy from unauthorised listeners. There are similar security services in the Midlands with channels which they are also obliged to share. The fact is that there are simply not enough frequencies to enable small private mobile radio services of this kind to have exclusive channels of the kind my hon. Friend wants. It is a hightly matter, and I shall be delighted to write to my hon. Friend to explain the matter in detail.