HC Deb 28 November 1934 vol 295 cc852-3W
Mr. ROSS

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that it is very difficult to hear the Belfast station of the British Broadcasting Corporation owing to weakness of transmission and the interference of Continental stations of similar wave-length; and whether he will endeavour to secure the allocation to this country by international agreement of other wave-lengths which would give to our weaker transmitting stations greater freedom from interference?

Sir K. WOOD

The power of the British Broadcasting Corporation's station at Belfast is 1 kilowatt; but the corporation propose to replace it by a station of 50 kilowatts, thus improving reception over a considerable area. The construction of the new station has been begun; but it is not yet possible to state on what date it will be brought into use.

The demand for broadcasting wave-lengths in Europe far exceeds the number available. The present allocation of these wave-lengths was settled at an international conference held at Lucerne last year; and it is not at present practicable to make any change in the wave-length allotted to the Belfast station.