§ Lieut.-Colonel A. McDONNELLasked the Secretary of State for Air what action has been taken by His Majesty's Government to establish an Imperial service of wireless communications on the lines laid down by a resolution of the Imperial Economic Conference, 1923?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI have been asked to answer this question. I propose to make a statement on this subject to-day.
§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that much of the official wireless news which is sent from Rugby is received in such a mutilated form at Penaga (Federated Malay States) that no one can understand what it refers to; and whether he is taking any and, if so, what steps to improve the service?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI understand that the reception of the British official news messages broadcast from Rugby is subject to serious interference at Penaga, not only from atmospherics, but also from neighbouring high-power stations at Saigon in French Indo-China and Malabar in Java. I am advised that this interference could be much reduced by the use of receiving apparatus of a different type, particulars of which have already been sent to the Postmaster-General of the Straits Settlements. Arrangements have recently been made to increase the power of the transmissions from Rugby, and this increase, coupled with the use of more suitable receiving apparatus, will, it is hoped, enable the official news messages to be received satisfactorily at Penaga.