§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Postmaster-General, if he is aware that in many areas of the country the British Broadcasting Corporation radio programmes regularly suffer interference from continental radio transmitters using similar frequencies; and what steps are being taken to minimise such interference for the benefit of the listening public.
§ Mr. BennYes. Though the B.B.C. use all available technical means to minimise the effect of the interference, its basic cause is that the medium wave band is overcrowded; and for this there is no technical cure. It is essentially for this reason that the B.B.C. have built a network of stations to transmit their sound programmes also on V.H.F. These transmissions, which are virtually free from continental interference, have now attained a population coverage of about 99 per cent. and are so available to nearly everyone who chooses to equip himself with a V.H.F. receiver. It is upon the V.H.F. transmissions that we will increasingly have to rely in order to get good reception.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Postmaster-General, if he will list the mean aerial height and mast height of the British Broadcasting Corporation's existing and proposed sound broadcasting stations; and if he will provide a map of the service areas, medium frequency and very high frequency, of each.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Postmaster-General, what are the locations, radiated frequencies, medium frequency and very high frequency, effective radiated power medium frequency and very high frequency, and horizontal radiation patterns, very high frequency, of all 131W British Broadcasting Corporation sound broadcasting stations in operation, under construction or proposed at present to be built.
§ Mr. BennIt is for the B.B.C. to decide the detailed technical characteristics of their medium-wave and V.H.F. sound broadcasting stations, subject to such limitations as I prescribe on sites, aerial and mast heights power, and frequency.
Much of the information the hon. Member requires is contained in the B.B.C. Handbook 1965 and in the Corporation's Annual Report and Accounts for the year 1964–65 which will be presented to Parliament later this month. The Corporation will, I am sure, be glad to provide further information he may require.