§ Mr. Gowerasked the Postmaster-General what steps have been taken to improve reception of British Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
Dr. HillThere is considerable interference with the Welsh Home Service during the hours of darkness, caused by a station in the Soviet Zone of Germany. The trouble was at its worst last winter. Repeated representations about this interference have been made through our Ambassador in Bonn, but I am sorry to say that they have so far been unsuccessful. Last winter, the B.B.C. introduced special technical measures at their Welsh Home Service transmitters, and were able to reduce the effect of the interference. In addition, they opened up four low-power transmitters, on a common international wavelength, at Cardiff, Wrexham, Penmon and Towyn—the last three of these have recently been closed as they are not necessary during the long hours of daylight. They have also increased the power of the Wrexham transmitter so as to serve a considerably wider area on its regular wavelength.
As part of their plans to meet the situation, the B.B.C. are pushing on with V.H.F. stations at Wenvoe in the South, and Penmon in the North West—both of these are due to be opened by the end of this year. When these stations are in operation, reception in the areas covered will be free of interference from foreign stations. The B.B.C.'s plans for Wales include two further V.H.F. stations, one near Wrexham and one at Blaen Plwy (near Aberystwyth).