Forces, Germany (Piped British Television)

HC Deb 24 November 1965 vol 721 cc496-7

21. Mr. Shepherd

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of piping British television to Her Majesty's forces in Germany.

Mr. Reynolds

British Forces in Germany are dispersed over a wide area and the cost of carrying television by land line to them would be prohibitive.

Mr. Shepherd

Has the hon. Gentleman any idea what this cost would be? Has he considered the possibility of offsetting it by making a charge, since this facility would be very greatly welcomed by troops serving in B.A.O.R.?

Mr. Reynolds

We fully appreciate that the facility would be greatly welcomed. We have looked at five different technical methods of providing a service. We did not work out the cost of this one to the end because it was obvious halfway through that it was completely out of the question.