§ Mr. Michael Cocksasked the Minister of Post and Telecommunications if he will make a statement on the progress of the experiment in local cable television authorised by him in Bristol.
§ Sir J. EdenRediffusion Cablevision Limited has been providing its "Bristol Channel" local community television service since 17th May 1973. The pattern of service and the amount of material provided are entirely matters for the company to decide: it is still too early to make any final judgment about the experiment.
§ Mr. Michael Cocksasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what organisations and individuals were consulted before his authorisation of the experiment in local cable television in Bristol.
§ Sir J. EdenThe BBC, the Independent Broadcasting Authority and the Cable Television Association of Great Britain were consulted before I announced the decision to allow local community television experiments in Greenwich, Bristol, Sheffield, Swindon and Wellingborough. Consultations with individuals and organisations in Bristol have always been matters for my licensee, Rediffusion Cablevision Limited.
§ Mr. Michael Cocksasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is the number of staff in his Department monitoring the quality and content of experimental local television programmes in Bristol.
§ Sir J. EdenNone full-time. One higher executive officer is employed about half time on general questions of cable development—including the quality and
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Profession Regional Hospital Board Physiotherapists Occupational Therapists Speech Therapists Remedial Gymnasts Radiographers Establishment Shortfall Establishment Shortfall Establishment Shortfall Establishment Shortfall Establishment Shortfall Northern … 32 5½ 10 5½ 2½ 1 2 ½ 22½ — North-Eastern 54½ 12 26 12 1 — — — 54 4½ Eastern … 79½ 29 45½ 23 9½ 2½ 7 2½ 55 3 South-Eastern 213½ 41 109 14 12 — 4 1 179 5½ Western … 425½ 103 132 47½ 36 10½ 9 2 396 82 content of the programmes in the five experimental services which I have authorised.