§ 4. Mr. Edelmanasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether, in view of the inadequate reception of television signals in the Allesley and Holbrook areas of Coventry, he will take urgent steps to establish a relay station, appropriately sited, for its improvement.
§ Sir J. EdenNo. If the BBC makes any proposals I will consider them.
§ Mr. EdelmanIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that that curt and perfunctory reply will be resented by tens of thousands of Coventry residents, of all parties, who realise that the quality of their reception 1113 is inferior to that in most parts of the country? Will the right hon. Gentleman mend his ways, come to Coventry and study the problem on the spot, and then endeavour to give some satisfactory service, at last, to those who are now so disadvantaged?
§ Sir J. EdenIn view of the many careful letters of explanation that I have exchanged with the hon. Gentleman I do not think that his observations are in any way justified. The hon. Gentleman knows that his constituents can readily help themselves in this matter either by improving their own aerial facilities or by turning to the possibility of introducing communal aerials.
§ Mr. MartenIn view of the number of complaints about inadequate reception, particularly in mountainous areas, valleys, and so on, may I ask whether the Government have given up all plans for putting up a geostationary satellite for relaying television programmes?
§ Sir J. EdenNo, Sir, not altogether. This has not been rejected, but it is not a realistic proposition now. Economic factors do not seem to justify the introduction of this now in terms of the United Kingdom alone, but it is something that has by no means been excluded.