§ 18. Mr. Joplingasked the Postmaster-General whether he has arrived at a decision as to when a fourth television programme will start to operate, and on how such a programme would be financed and administered.
§ 22. Mr. Ian Gilmourasked the Postmaster-General what arrangements he has made for allocating a television channel for the purpose of providing a University of the Air.
§ Mr. MasonI have nothing to add to paragraphs 16 to 20 of the White Paper on Broadcasting of December 1966.
§ Mr. JoplingIs the Postmaster-General not aware that—quite apart from the proposal for the University of the Air, which is to be welcomed—there is still a great need for a fourth television channel? Will he make a statement this afternoon that he understands the need for this and will do something about it as soon as possible?
§ Mr. MasonI am sorry to disappoint the hon. Member. I cannot do that this afternoon. The 1966 White Paper said that there would be no allocation of extra frequencies at least for the next three years. A fourth T.V. channel at this time would not be on our high priority list.
§ Mr. GilmourSince the project was talked about since 1963, is it not time that the Postmaster-General had something definite to say about it?
§ Mr. MasonIt was talked about in 1963, probably with the encouragement of the then Government, but it was not encouraged by us. The University of the Air is being encouraged and I hope the service will start by the autumn of 1970 or January, 1971.
§ Sir C. OsborneWill the Postmaster-General confirm that our national economic needs are not for more amusement on T.V., but for a greater willingness to work, and that people should be encouraged to work, not to watch T.V. night and day?