§ Mr. Bostonasked the Postmaster-General if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total yearly expenditure on the very high frequency radio services 170W since they were set up; and the amounts in each future year for which there are plans for developing, extending and maintaining the very high frequency radio services.
§ Mr. StonehouseI assume my hon Friend has in mind the use of very high frequencies by the B.B.C. for sound broadcasting. The B.B.C. tell me that it is not possible to make an assessment of the separate capital cost of the stations, because they share buildings and masts with other services, including television, at 74 different premises. The running costs, the bulk of which consist of power, staff, distribution circuits, rent, rates and taxes are about £650,000 per annum This assessment is necessarily approximate because the distribution network for Radios 2, 3 and 4 is common to V.H.F. and L.F./M.F.
§ Mr. Bostonasked the Postmaster-General if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the growth in the number of very high frequency radio sets in Great Britain in each year since the very high frequency radio services were set up; and what estimate he has made of future growth in future years.
§ Mr. StonehouseThe number year-by-year of very high frequency sets in use in Great Britain since 1955, when V.H.F. sound broadcasting services started, is not available. The number of sets disposed of in the period in question by British manufacturers on the home market is as follows:—
(000's) 1955 242 1956 394 1957 599 1958 540 1959 512 1960 452 1961 314 1962 305 1963 315 1964 336 1965 323 1966 317 1967 331 1968 510 Imports during 1967 and 1968 are estimated at 570,000. I have made no estimate of growth in future years.
§ Mr. Bostonasked the Postmaster-General if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the future plans approved by him for extending very high 171W frequency transmitters and equipment associated with the very high frequency radio services.
§ Mr. StonehouseThe present service and future plans are indicated on pages 76 and 77 and 204 and 205 of the B.B.C.'s Report and Accounts for 1967–68 (Cmnd. 3779).
§ Mr. Bostonasked the Postmaster-General if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the very high frequency transmitters and other associated equipment installed throughout Great Britain in each year to the nearest convenient date since very high frequency radio services were set up.
§ Mr. StonehouseDetails of transmitters and associated equipment brought into use by the B.B.C. are shown in its Annual Reports and Accounts from 1955–56 onwards.