HC Deb 22 November 1950 vol 481 cc57-8W
86. Mr. J. Arbuthnot

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a further statement on the interference by a Russian station making the British Broadcasting Corporation's Home Service programme difficult to hear; in particular, what was the date or dates on which representations were made; and what reply or replies have been received.

Mr. Ness Edwards

My Department sent a telegram to the Russian Administration on 26th July about interference with the B.B.C. London Home Service.

A further telegram was sent on 6th November when representations were also made about interference with the Northern Home Service. No reply has yet been received. The interference continues.

91. Mr. Cooper-Key

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give the reasons for the increasing distortion and interference on the radio, especially on the Home Service, in the Rye and Hastings area; and what steps he is taking to improve the service.

Mr. Ness Edwards

This is due partly to the seasonal change in propagation conditions and partly to the acute congestion in the long and medium wavebands available for broadcasting in Europe. A Russian station is interfering with the B.B.C. London Home Service. My Department has made representations to the Russian Administration whose reply is awaited.

92. Mr. J. Arbuthnot

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider trying to overcome Russian interference to the British Broadcasting Corporation's Home Service programme by a rearrangement among the available wavelengths and by using for the Home Service one of the other United Kingdom wavelengths in the medium waveband.

Mr. Ness Edwards

The allocation to the various B.B.C. programmes of the limited number of long and medium wavelengths available by international agreement to the United Kingdom was planned after exhaustive study to provide the best overall reception for the country as a whole. Any rearrangement which would improve reception in one area would be to the detriment of another. The remedy for interference problems is more likely to be found through the existing international machinery for co-operation in telecommunications matters and my Department is therefore pursuing that method.