HC Deb 18 December 1973 vol 866 cc298-300W
Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what were the dates an durations of the visits made by officers of his Department to five experimental cable television stations now in being, respectively; and how many officers were involved in each visit.

Sir. J Eden

Accompanied by two officers directly concerned with the experiments I took part in the official opening at:

  1. (1) Greenwich on 3rd July 1972. The visit occupied about three hours in the evening.
  2. (2) Bristol on 17th–18th May. The opening took place in the evening: the service began on 18th May with a breakfast-time television programme.
  3. (3) Sheffield on 29th–30th August. The opening took place in the evening.
  4. (4) Swindon on 11th September. The visit occupied about four hours.

The fifth experiment has not yet begun.

Occasional visits have been made to the Greenwich experiment by one official for periods of about two hours including a visit on 22nd November 1972.

Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will place in the Library copies of the requirements specified in the terms of his licence to each of the five experimental cable television stations now in being.

Sir J. Eden

A copy of the licence issued to Greenwich Cablecasts Limited, the terms of which have been applied to the experimental cable stations now operating, was placed in the Library in response to a Question from the hon. Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) on 19th July 1972.

Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will place in the Library copies of the advance programme schedules provided as a condition of his licence by the five experimental cable television stations now in being.

Sir J. Eden

I am arranging for copies of the advanced programme schedules for four of the five experimental stations to be placed in the Library. The fifth experiment has not yet started.

Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what were the dates and durations of discussions by his Department with Bristol Channel to ensure that programmes meet satisfactorily the requirement specified in his licence, and where these discussions took place.

Sir J. Eden

Formal discussion with representatives of Rediffusion Radio Holdings Limited took place at my Department on 7th November 1972 on the requirements of my licence in relation to the general conduct of the experimental service including matters appertaining to programme content. There is no record of the duration of the meeting. Detailed questions relating to programme matters have since been, and continue to be, dealt with in telephone conversation or correspondence as appropriate.

Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will list the programmes referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Bristol, South on 10th December (HANSARD, column 50); what were dates of transmission; and by whom they were viewed.

Sir J. Eden

I have seen the inaugural programmes prepared by the four companies so far licensed. The Greenwich programmes comprised about an hour's material, including a panoramic tour of the locality, interviews with local personalities, "What is Cablevision?" and "The People of Bebington Street". During an official's visit on 22nd November 1972 a recorded interview with members of the South-East Action Committee on employment and housing problems in the locality followed by a 35-minute programme of discussions with the local officials of the St. John Ambulance Brigade commemorating the organisation's seventieth anniversary were viewed. The inaugural programmes at Bristol included a composite programme of excerpts from forthcoming programmes. There was also a 45-minute programme "Friday Breakfast" giving a preview of news, weekend events and entertainment. The Sheffield presentation included two 25-minute programmes "City on the Move—Where to?" and "Sheffield Clean Air City". The Swindon presentation included excerpts from forthcoming programmes.

Mr. David Steel

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will consider publishing a Green Paper outlining Government thinking on the future development of cable television.

Sir J. Eden

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.