§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that many people have applied for a licence for a wireless set and have been refused; and whether he will take action to allow all the people who apply for a licence to have one granted to them as a source of Revenue to the Post Office?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI would refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 15th instant on the same subject to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Shinwell).
Sir F. HALLasked the Postmaster-General whether, having regard to the large number of home-made wireless instruments now being made by the general public and to the difficulty in obtaining licences therefor, he will have arrangements made for the issue of licences for the same at all post offices, as in the ease of the British Broadcasting Company instruments?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI would refer the hon. Member to the reply of the 28th instant on the same subject to the lion. Member for Tottenham North (Mr. R. Morrison).
§ Sir J. HOODasked the Postmaster-General how many members of the British Broadcasting Company, Limited, 744W there are, and what are their names: how many types of instrument manufactured by such members he has approved; whether it is necessary for the user of any instrument, whether manufactured by any such member or,not, to obtain fur the purposo of receiving messages an annual or other licence from His Majesty's Postmaster-General: what is the fee payable for such licence: and how many licences have been issued?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am informed that at present about 260 wireless manufacturing firms have become members of the British Broadcasting Company. The names of the firms will be communicated to the hon. Member if he wishes to have them. The number of types of broadcast receiving apparatus approved by the Post Office is 1,450. Under the Wireless Telegraph Act, 1904, the use of wireless apparatus in this country, whether for sending or receiving purposes, is subject to the licence of the Postmaster-General. The licence fee in the case of wireless receiving apparatus is at present 10s. per annum. The number of such licences at present issued is approximately 115,000, of which about 80,000 are in respect of receiving sets bearing the trade mark of the British Broadcasting Company.
§ Sir E. STOCKTONasked the Postmaster-General whether his department has considered the whole question of international law and usage so far as it affects broadcasting; and, if so, whether he is taking any action to co-ordinate action in the matter?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe only international regulations applying to wireless communications are those contained in the International Radiotelegraphic Convention of 1912. They do not apply to inland broadcasting services such as that recently established in this country. The question of introducing regulations governing the wave lengths to be used in connection with such services will be considered at an international conference which will probably he held next year for the purpose of revising the International Convention.