HL Deb 14 December 1961 vol 236 cc422-4

3.20 p.m.

LORD PEDDIE

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, in view of the prospective development of "pay as you view "television and the possible availability of a separate channel for this purpose, to indicate how far the Post Office is technically equipped to provide such a service, and whether any investigations have been conducted to ascertain the extent to which "pay as you view" television facilities could be linked with the telephone service.]

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, the noble Lord has based his questions on the prospective development of "pay as you view". But the number and type of television programmes for the future awaits consideration in the light of the Report of the Pilkington Committee. This is expected in the spring. It would be premature to conduct specific investigations as to methods of provision at this time.

LORD PEDDIE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply, but, while allowing for the fact of the sitting of the Pilkington Committee, and their possible recommendations, I should like to ask him, whether the Post Office is at this moment technically fitted to undertake such a service with regard to programmes. My question is now a direct one: and it is, quite simply, whether or not the Post Office is fitted to undertake such a service.

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, if the noble Lord is referring to technical skill, then the answer is, Yes; but if he is asking whether it can be undertaken without either cutting into capital and manpower resources, the answer is, No.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, I do not think the noble Lord has quite answered my noble friend's question. If I might put it again, it was: Is the Post Office in possession of equipment; is it in possession of the necessary technical knowledge of this particular type of project to be able, without perhaps too great cost, to put on a "pay as you view" programme, or facilities for it? Furthermore, has the Post Office made the information on this subject available to the Pilkington Committee?

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, it may be that I was mistaken, or it may be that the noble Lord, Lord Shackleton, was mistaken, but I do not think his noble friend in fact referred to the possession of technical equipment. Technical equipment the Post Office does not at the moment possess; technical know-how it does possess. I understand that the technical problems concerned in such a development would not be very great, but they would be very costly.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, if the noble Lord will kindly read the Question he will see that he was specifically asked to indicate … how far the Post Office is technically equipped to provide such a service …

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, with all respect to noble Lords opposite and to the noble Viscount the Leader of the Opposition, I think I have answered the Question; in fact, I think I have answered it twice. The equipment necessary to introduce such a service is not available; the know-how for developing such a service is available.

LORD MORRISON of LAMBETH

My Lords, the noble Lord has told us—for which we are much obliged—that the Post Office possesses the know-how, such as technical knowledge. I understand that the Government do not wish to make up their mind before they receive the Pilkington Report; but, policy considerations aside, are we to take it that it would be practicable for the Post Office to do this?

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, my impression is that I have also answered that question. It would be technically possible; it would be also very expensive, and it might mean either adding to the Vote of the Post Office or cutting into the available manpower and capital resources.

LORD PEDDIE

My Lords, mention has been made of the expense of operating such a service. Am I right in thinking that the Post Office would have special facilities with regard to the collection of such personal fees that were paid which would not be available to the private operator in this particular field?

LORD ST. OSWALD

My Lords, I do not want ever to be evasive, but that seems to me to be a very different question. If the question of installing such a service must be left to the Pilkington Committee's recommendations, then surely the methods of collecting fees must also be left to them.