§ Mr. du Cannasked the Postmaster-General whether Appendix XIV of the Annual Report of the British Broadcasting Corporation, 1954–55, Command Paper No. 9533, from which it is apparent that a large area of west Somerset is expected to receive satisfactory reception from North Hessary Tor very high frequency station, still accords with the policy of his Department in relation to reception in west Somerset.
Dr. HillAppendix XIV, which shows an overlap between the estimated areas to be served by the Wenvoe and North Hessary Tor V.H.F. stations is correct. But it is expected that the bulk of west Somerset listeners will obtain better reception from Wenvoe than from North Hessary Tor. This is made clear in Appendix XVII of the Report, which describes the main areas covered by each station.
§ Mr. du Cannasked the Postmaster-General (1) at what precise date it is anticipated that complete service will be achieved in the case of the Wenvoe very high frequency station;
(2) in view of the opinion of his Department that Wenvoe very high frequency station will not be in full operation until later in the summer, why the coverage of areas other than South Wales and Monmouthshire by the Wenvoe very high frequency station is behind schedule, having regard to the forecast contained in Appendix XVII of the Annual Report of the British Broadcasting Corporation, 1954–55, Command Paper No. 9533, to the effect that complete service would be achieved by the spring of 1956.
Dr. HillAt present no more precise date can be given than late summer, as stated in the reply given to my hon. Friend on 4th July. The date given in the B.B.C. Report was that estimated by the Corporation at the time of publication: there have since been delays in delivery of essential equipment.