HC Deb 19 December 1974 vol 883 cc1794-5
5. Mr. Beith

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is Government policy that the recommendation about radio transmission to North Northumberland made in paragraph 106 of the Report of the Committee on Broadcasting Coverage should await implementation until after the Annan Committee has reported.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Alexander W. Lyon)

This recommendation does not call for submission to the Annan Committee. Implementation depends on the priority accorded to it in relation to other claims on the BBC's resources.

Mr. Beith

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for clarifying the very ambiguous statement of his hon. Friend on 21st November. Will he recognise and represent to the BBC that my constituents have been deprived of all local and regional news on radio for nearly two years and that, just as the recommendation of the Crawford Committee was seen as a priority by the committee, so it must be seen by the Government and the BBC?

Mr. Lyon

The hon. Gentleman refers to his constituents in general. I understand that about 4,000 people out of 28,000 people in the area are affected. However, I take his point, and I think that the BBC takes it. It is, however, a matter for the BBC and for the allocation of resources within the BBC. I cannot pretend that in present straitened circumstances it will feel that it is a very high priority.

Sir J. Langford-Holt

The hon. Gentleman has mentioned the straitened circumstances of the BBC. Will he draw to the attention of the BBC the fact that it can save a considerable sum of money by not spending about £635 on sending to each Member of the House a copy of its annual report, plus, as far as I can calculate, over £150 in postage?

Mr. Lyon

I am sure that that matter will be noted by the BBC.