§ Sir P. LATHAMasked the Postmaster-General the estimated capital cost of television to date on research and on provision of existing plant, respectively; the estimated annual expenditure on the upkeep of the plant, salaries and artists' fees; and the estimated number of television receiver-holders and the basis on which the estimate was compiled?
§ Major TRYONThe cost of television research has been borne by the commercial firms engaged in the manufacture of equipment. The plant acquired by the British Broadcasting Corporation up to the end of October, 1936, cost approximately £110,000. The public service, which is at present of a restricted character, has only been in operation since 2nd November; and it is not yet possible to form a reliable estimate of annual expenditure. No information is available concerning the number of television receiving sets at present in use; but the Television Advisory Committee 1073W have recently approached the Radio Manufacturers' Association with the object of securing, from time to time, confidential information concerning the total number of sets sold by members of the association.