HC Deb 21 July 1954 vol 530 cc123-4W
75 and 76. Mr. Grey

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) if he will now make a statement on the question of very high frequency broadcasting;

(2) what priority the North-East will have for the very high frequency service.

77. Mr. Willey

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he expects to provide a very high frequency broadcasting service for the North-East of England.

Mr. Gammans

After consultation with the Television Advisory Committee, my noble Friend has authorised the B.B.C. to proceed with nine very high frequency sound broadcasting stations giving coverage to 75 per cent. of the population of the United Kingdom. They will be situated at Divis (near Belfast), Holme Moss, Meldrum (Aberdeenshire), North Hessary Tor, Norwich, Pontop Pike, Sutton Coldfield, West Wales and Wrotham. The B.B.C. hope to have the first station in this programme, at Wrotham, in regular service by May, 1955; the next will be Pontop Pike and Divis, and the other stations will follow at intervals over a period of about 18 months.

My noble Friend has asked the Television Advisory Committee to let him have their recommendations about further development in very high frequency sound broadcasting.