HC Deb 22 July 1953 vol 518 c38W
29. Captain Orr

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will publish the protests which he received from the British Broadcasting Corporation when frequencies, which should have been re-served for television broadcasting, were allocated for other purposes.

30. Captain Orr

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why his Department permitted six frequency channels in Band III to be allocated for purposes other than television broadcasting.

Mr. Gammans

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to paragraph 17 of the Television Advisory Committee's Report. At the Atlantic City Radio Conference of 1947, the band of frequencies between 174 and 216 megacycles (Band III) was allocated in Europe to broadcasting services. At that time the B.B.C. was primarily concerned with expanding its television services in Band I and was not yet contemplating a second programme; and there was, of course, no suggestion of competitive television. It was in 1949 that the B.B.C. recommended that all the frequencies in this band should be reallocated to television.

31. Captain Orr

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he proposes to set up an independent commission to control all frequency allocations.

Mr. Gammans

On present evidence, my noble Friend does not consider that there is any need to set up such an independent commission.