HC Deb 25 January 1968 vol 757 c555
1. Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Postmaster-General what steps have been taken by the British Broadcasting Corporation to improve reception of Radio 2 in Scotland.

The Postmaster-General (Mr. Edward Short)

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Scotstoun (Mr. Small) on 19th December, I authorised the B.B.C. to open low-powered stations at Glasgow and Edinburgh to relay Radio 2 on one of the international common medium wavelengths, 202 metres. Both stations were in operation before Christmas.

Mr. Taylor

As the many thousands of old people who were deprived of their favourite programme have now had them restored, is the Postmaster-General aware that they are all very happy at the action taken, and with his personal intervention, and that if the B.B.C. responded to genuine public complaints like that there would be far fewer of them?

Mr. Maclennan

Is my right hon. Friend aware that reception of Radio 2, as of B.B.C. television, is still not satisfactory in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland? In a letter to me on 29th November he drew attention to studies which were being undertaken. How far have those studies gone?

Mr. Short

There is a question on that matter, not specifically relating to this area but to this kind of territory, which I shall answer later.