Oral Answers to Questions — Television – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 14 December 1949.
Sir Arthur Harvey
, Macclesfield
12:00,
14 December 1949
asked the Postmaster-General what effect the increased output and range of the television transmitter at Sutton Coldfield will have on the location of other stations and the expansion programme of television broadcasts.
Mr Charles Hobson
, Wembley North
None, Sir. The power of the B.B.C.'s television transmitter at Sutton Coldfield has not been increased and it is expected to meet the requirements for which it was designed as part of the expansion programme.
Sir Arthur Harvey
, Macclesfield
How can the hon. Gentleman make that statement when the transmitter is known to be giving clear pictures 50 miles beyond what was estimated? Surely, if this is the case it must make a difference to future expansion, and would he tell us something more about it?
Mr Charles Hobson
, Wembley North
The hon. and gallant Member may be aware of the fact that the transmissions from Alexandra Palace have been received in South Africa, but we should not say that South Africa can receive British television programmes.
Mr. Enroll:
Will the Minister consider stepping up the power of this transmitter so that Manchester and district may benefit immediately?
Mr Charles Hobson
, Wembley North
No, Sir. I do not think it is only the power of the transmitter which affects the radius within which signals can be received.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
