83. Commander Maitlandasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the nuisance caused to television users by the failure of motorists and other users of electrical appliances to fit suppressors; and, in view of the steadily increasing number of viewers, what further action he proposes to deal with this problem.
§ Mr. GammansRegulations under the Wireless Telegraphy Act make it compulsory for all cars manufactured since July, 1953, to be fitted with suitable suppressors. A substantial number of older cars are fitted voluntarily. The car problem, therefore, is a diminishing one.
Under other Regulations, all new refrigerators made since 1st September, 1955, also have to be suppressed.
There are further Regulations dealing with household and industrial appliances which use small electric motors, such as sewing machines, hair dryers, vacuum cleaners and electric drills. By no means all of these cause trouble, but when interference is reported to us and we trace it to such an appliance, we ask the owner to fit a suppressor. In the rare case of refusal, he can be required to do so.
There are other sources of interference but we usually find that when the trouble is pointed out to him the offender agrees to have his apparatus put right. We are, however, considering the need for further Regulations to deal with non-co-operative offenders in these other types of interference.