HL Deb 22 May 1974 vol 351 cc1435-6
LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords. I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper. In doing so, I have to declare an interest because I am a director of a television distribution company having a retail outlet in the Channel Islands.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why the signals from the B.B.C. colour television transmitters on the Isle of Wight cannot be received in the Channel Islands.

THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD HARRIS OF GREENWICH)

My Lords, I understand that it is not possible to provide a colour television service in the Channel Islands from the Isle of Wight. This is because of the need to conform to frequency plans drawn up by international agreement, and because of the limited range of ultra high frequency transmissions.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that there is a widespread belief that the aerial on the Isle of Wight has been modified to prevent reception of the signal by the French who, of course, do not pay licence fees? Is the noble Lord able to dispose of that allegation?

LORD HARRIS OF GREENWICH

My Lords, I have just returned from an official visit to Jersey, and I am bound to say that I did not hear that charge made while I was there, though I am well aware that people on Jersey are very keen to have colour television—and Her Majesty's Government are keen that they should.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, may I ask one more supplementary question arising from that answer; namely, can the noble Lord say what timetable now exists for the modification of the existing transmitters in the Channel Islands to carry the colour programmes?

LORD HARRIS OF GREENWICH

My Lords, as the noble Lord will be aware, this is something which involves a significant degree of public expenditure, and public expenditure is under review at the present time. We would hope that there would be colour transmissions in the Channel Islands in 1976, but beyond that I am afraid I cannot go.

LORD DAVIES OF LEEK

My Lords, can the noble Lord tell the House whether this works the other way—whether we can receive colour transmissions from the Channel Islands in order that the electorate can see whether the arrogant, affluent, lumpen, rich people who escape taxation occasionally blush?