§ 4. Mr. Blakerasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the progress of plans for transmitting British television programmes to the British Forces in Germany.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army (Mr. Robert C. Brown)Contracts for the London Control Centre, the interim studio and transmitting equipment have been placed or are being negotiated. An interim recorded service consisting of a balanced mixture of British programmes should be available to about 17,000 Service men and their families in the Celle area by Christmas this year and will be gradually extended to cover all troops in West Germany during the following two years. From 1978 all programmes will be broadcast direct from this country.
§ Mr. BlakerIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there will be a general welcome for the fact that the Government propose to proceed with the project, planning for which was begun under the Conservative Government? The project is very important for the morale of our forces in Germany and their families. Can the Minister yet say whether the full programme will include extracts selected 249 from both the BBC and the independent television services?
§ Mr. BrownEveryone will agree that the project is valuable for the morale of our troops and their wives and families. The service will be a balance of the BBC programmes and the ITV programmes.
§ Mr. Ronald AtkinsAs the British troops in Germany cost the British taxpayer more than £400 million a year, three-quarters of that sum in German marks, would it not be better to transmit the troops back to Britain unless a suitable offset agreement is concluded with Germany?
§ Mr. BrownThe question of an offset agreement does not arise from the question, and the transmission of troops back to this country does not arise either. We are firmly committed to NATO. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has said more than once in the House recently, NATO is the linchpin of our defence policy.