HL Deb 11 February 1970 vol 307 cc873-4

2.40 p.m.

LORD MONTAGU OF BEAULIEU

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 their proposals to use the medium-wave band for local radio, whether urgent consideration could first be given to improving national reception of Radio 1 by including it in the V.H.F. band.]

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

My Lords, this must be a rather technical reply and I hope that the House will bear with it. A national service, such as Radio 1, can be provided on very high frequencies only from stations which use high power. The frequencies which the United Kingdom can use at high power are all already in use, and only very high frequencies which may be used at low power remain available.

The use of very high frequencies is governed by an international Agreement to which the United Kingdom agreed before the start of Radio 1. Local radio stations rely primarily on very high frequencies at low power. Most of them will be supplemented by medium wave transmission, principally during the hours of daylight.

LORD MONTAGU OF BEAULIEU

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that Answer. In view of the fact that Radio 1 cannot, it seems, go on V.H.F., may I ask what steps are going to be taken to improve reception on medium wave? Because at best it is unsatisfactory and at worst it is quite impossible to hear.

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

My Lords, I recognise that there are difficulties. The B.B.C. are seeking to expand and improve their transmissions all the time. Of course, money is limited. They are doing their best within certain limits.

LORD MONTAGU OF BEAULIEU

My Lords, are Her Majesty's Government aware that many people think that this is a devious plot on the part of the Government to ensure that Radio 1 is not heard by too many people in this country?

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

My Lords, I am not at all sure that the noble Lord is right about "plot" in any sense. For my part, I enormously enjoy Radio 1.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, why is it that Radio 1 can be transmitted only on high-power V.H.F.? Surely low power V.H.F. is better than no V.H.F.

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

My Lords, it is prohibited by international agreement. If Radio 1 were transmitted on high power it would interfere not only with stations on the Continent but also with those in the United Kingdom, and we are in fact prohibited from doing so.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, I am sorry if I did not make myself clear. Why cannot we transmit Radio 1 on low-power V.H.F. if the frequencies are available?

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

My Lords, because it would not be heard nationally; that is the simple point. The local stations which work on low power can be heard of course in their normal areas, but if a national programme were transmitted on low power it would not be heard nationally.