§ 3. Mr. Milneasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy in regard to the provision of regional radio transmission and the extension of services to outlying communities.
§ Mr. ChatawayI would refer the hon. Member to my White Paper "An Alternative Service of Radio Broadcasting", Cmnd. 4636.
§ Mr. MilneIs the Minister aware that his policy is breaking up, or is likely to break up, some of the excellent teams operating from the B.B.C. in Newcastle and is depriving the areas of North Northumberland in particular of the type of services they need regarding both weather transmissions and local news?
§ Mr. ChatawayThe hon. Gentleman may recall that the B.B.C., as part of the proposals contained in "Broadcasting in the 'Seventies", decided to assimilate Radio 4 to a single programme in England. I understand, however, that on V.H.F. the B.B.C. is continuing the regional opt-outs which provide news and weather forecasts on a regional basis.