HC Deb 09 June 1971 vol 818 cc1017-8
6. Mr. Cohen

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what progress is being made in relation to the provision of a new transmitter for Radio Leeds; and what is the approximate date when this will be in operation.

Mr. Chataway

The B.B.C. have put proposals to me but they would need to be considered in relation to a comprehensive frequency plan which would accommodate not only the B.B.C.'s local stations but also the new service envisaged in my recent White Paper.

Mr. Cohen

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that this is a question of V.H.F. rather than the medium frequencies? Would he not agree that it seems to be a tremendous waste of money to produce excellent programmes which the listening public are then unable to hear? Is he not aware of the growing concern in the Leeds conurbation area, which includes about a million people, at the fact that their programmes have been blotted out by Radio Manchester and Radio Humberside, because of their more powerful transmitters? In view of this, would he undertake to reconsider the situation?

Mr. Chataway

There has to be a comprehensive frequency plan for V.H.F. as for medium frequency, and any changes in the allocation of frequencies for B.B.C. local stations would have to await the preparation of that comprehensive frequency plan.

Mr. Alfred Morris

I apologise to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, South-East (Mr. Cohen) for any disturbance or interference caused by Radio Manchester to what I know to be an excellent radio station in Leeds. Would the Minister agree that Radio Manchester and other local stations could go over to medium wave fairly quickly if only he would give his consent? Why the delay?

Mr. Chataway

I have explained the position—as I did in the debate before the Recess. It is that we have to apply for the use of international medium wave frequencies which are principally allocated to other countries, and thereafter a comprehensive frequency plan has to be worked out to accommodate both the commercial stations and the B.B.C. There is no short-cut here.