§ 61 and 62. Mr. Mayhewasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether a decision has yet been reached on the introduction of 625-line television; and, in view of the fact that a private firm T.R.A. Electrical Ltd., in a document, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Woolwich, East, have published official information regarding the date of introduction of this system, which is still confidential pending his decision, what action he has taken to ascertain whether special information reached this firm as a result of the work of the Television Advisory Committee;
(2) to what extent the question of sites for 625-line ultra high frequency transmitters has been considered by his Television Advisory Committee; and, in view of the fact that a private firm, T.R.A. Electrical Ltd., have issued a statement, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Woolwich, East, in which it is claimed that sites for such transmitters have been purchased in many large cities, what action he has taken to ascertain how confidential information on this matter was made available to this firm.
§ Mr. BevinsAs I have already said to the hon. Member in my letter of 10th November, no decisions have been taken in regard to the future of television pending receipt of the Pilkington Committee's Report. The Television Advisory Committee have not considered the detailed siting of U.H.F. transmitters, or a starting date for a 625-line 167W system. While some existing television station sites may be suitable for U.H.F. transmitters on either 405 or 625 lines, neither the B.B.C. nor the I.T.A. have bought U.H.F. station sites. There is thus no official information on which the statements referred to by the hon. Member could have been based.