HL Deb 30 May 1960 vol 224 cc6-7
LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will represent to the British Broadcasting Corporation that the district including Lancaster, Morecambe and Barrow-in-Furness is a fringe area for radio signals and whether they will consider the provision of V.H.F. satellite stations there, in addition to the satellite television stations which they announced last June they would provide in the Lancaster-Barrow-in-Furness areas.]

LORD CHESHAM

My Lords, the B.B.C. are mindful of the need for improvement in V.H.F. sound reception, particularly in the Lancaster-More-cambe area. They will consider whether something can be done to improve V.H.F. sound reception in this area in a later stage of their satellite scheme.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he is aware that successive Postmaster Generals, for the last fifteen years, have been made aware of the deficiency in this district and have, if not promised, at any rate held out some hopes that remedies would be found; and will he impress upon the Post Office that the remedy is overdue?

LORD CHESHAM

My Lords, I shall be delighted to pass on the words of my noble friend. I would only remind him that the B.B.C. are engaged in a considerable programme of improvement of both the television and the V.H.F. stations all over the country, and they hope to fit this in when they can. I would add, if this seems to indicate some delay, that they are contemplating a further programme of very low-power satellite stations in individual towns with particularly bad reception although they are not yet able to say when they can do anything for these particular towns in that respect.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

I thank my noble friend.