HC Deb 24 November 1937 vol 329 c1238W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made with the wireless telephone service to transmit messages to the fishing fleets round the northern coasts; which stations are completed; and how soon will all the projected stations be in working order?

Major Tryon

All Post Office coast stations in the British Isles are equipped with radiotelephone apparatus by means of which telegrams are telephoned to and from fishing vessels and other small craft. In addition, the coast stations Humber Radio (near Grimsby) and Seaforth Radio (near Liverpool) are equipped with apparatus which enables persons on board these ships to exchange telephone calls with subscribers to the inland system at any point in the British Isles. In this service reliable communication may normally be expected while the ship is within a range of about 100 miles from the coast station; but this distance is often exceeded in practice.

It is proposed to equip the coast station at Portpatrick with improved apparatus for a similar service; but the scheme is still in the experimental stage, and it cannot yet be stated when the remaining coast stations will be equipped.