§ 23. Lieut.-Commander Maydonasked the Postmaster-General if he will institute an inter-departmental inquiry into the congestion of the short-wave general shipping frequency and facilities for radio communication between ship, shore and aircraft in emergency in the Straits of Dover, and on the south-east coast.
§ Mr. BevinsI assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the frequency of 2182 kilocycles a second, which, as well as being a general calling fequency, is internationally allocated for the transmission by radiotelephone of distress and urgency messages. The arrangements for maritime distress communications are kept under review both by my Department and by that of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, and I do not know of any circumstances which call for a special inquiry.