§ 127. Mr. Callaghanasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has considered the adverse effect on safety of life at sea in searching for ships in distress, of the proposal to alter the present system of very high frequency radio services on ships which permits ship-to-aircraft communication, to a system that will prevent such communication; and how he proposes to overcome this difficulty.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13th July to Questions by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Down, South (Captain Orr) and the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes).
Full use of very high frequency short-range communication between ships of all flags and with shore stations in all countries cannot be made until agreement has been reached internationally on the modulation system to be employed. As the hon. Member knows, the proposal to favour frequency modulation is considered to offer the best basis on which to resume international discussions.
I can assure the hon. Member that any possible advantages to be derived from further means of direct communication between ships and aircraft will not be overlooked.