§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Postmaster-General (1) if he will require priority in the provision of transmitters in Band III, so that thickly-populated areas in the North Region which are at present unable to obtain proper reception of British Broadcasting Corporation television programmes may do so in future;
(2) if he is aware that reception of British Broadcasting Corporation television programmes in certain populous northern areas distant from the Holme Moss transmitter, usually subject to interference in summer, has this summer been worse than at any other time; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with this.
§ Mr. BevinsParagraphs 53 and 54 of the White Paper on Broadcasting (Gmnd. 1770) refer to the use of the unallotted Band III frequencies. I am aware, and so is the B.B.C., that television reception on the lower Band I 175W channels has again been spoilt this summer in various parts of the country, including the North Region, by periodic interference from foreign stations. I have authorised eight B.B.C. television stations for the North Region in the first three stages of its satellite station scheme. The B.B.C. has already opened one of these and work is proceeding on the others. I am discussing the general question of improving reception with the B.B.C. and I.T.A. The introduction of television on ultra high frequencies will solve the problem of interference from foreign stations since the ultra high frequencies are not subject to this kind of trouble.