§ 13. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what steps he is taking to increase financial provision to the British Broadcasting Corporation in order to permit it to increase the engineering staff whose duties are the installation and erection of television relay stations, so as to cut down the period of two years now takes by the British Broadcasting Corporation to get a relay station on the air after all site acquisition is completed.
§ Sir J. EdenNone, Sir. Money is not in any case the decisive factor.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsWould my right hon. Friend agree that there is a delay of two years and that it is absolutely intolerable, in particular in areas such as mine, in Derbyshire, where the reception of all types of television is appalling? The BBC has informed me that there is a lack of trained staff. Will my right hon. Friend do what he can to improve the situation, because it is quite intolerable for my constituents, as for many others elsewhere in a situation similar to that of mine?
§ Sir J. EdenI of course have every sympathy with the views which my hon. Frend has expressed, and I recognise the force of the point he has made. He has stressed the non-availability of some staff, I will look into this matter in consultation with the authorities concerned, but I think it is right we should recognise that this must be a developing system which is best built up by stages to ensure maxium efficiency of a nationwide service.
§ Mr. WhiteheadDoes the right hon. Gentleman recognise that I, as a constituent of the hon. Member for Derbyshire, West (Mr. Scott-Hopkins), can testify that there are many areas in 489 Derbyshire where it is impossible to pick up two out of three of the television services? Would it not be better for the Government to allocate resources for this rather than to push ahead with their regional radio service?
§ Sir J. EdenNo, this is not due wholly to financial resources. It is much more due to the factors which have been mentioned by my hon. Friend.