asked the Postmaster-General what is the proposed annual expenditure on television this current year and for next year, respectively.

The B.B.C.'s annual expenditure on television is a matter for the Corporation. It is estimated that in the current year Post Office expenditure in providing communicating links between television stations will be about £450,000. I cannot yet say how much will be spent next year.

Can the hon. Gentleman give us any idea how the expenditure of this money will be of benefit to North Devon?

Not without notice, but in any case it is a question for the British Broadcasting Corporation.

asked the Postmaster-General how much is being spent on extending the coverage of television in England.

It is estimated that in the current year B.B.C. expenditure on extending the coverage of television in England will be, approximately, £215,000. The Post Office will spend £350,000 in providing communicating links for the same purpose.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think that, in view of the fact that re-armament must make it more difficult to manufacture television sets and to extend the supply of electricity to rural areas, it would be better to spend more money on improving sound broadcasts instead of television?

The hon. Gentleman is expressing an opinion.

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that a great deal of this expenditure on the development of television is directly competitive with the re-armament programme? Will he ask his right hon. Friend to consider Sir William Haley's estimate of £4,250,000 to be spent on the development of television during the next three years and see that that expenditure is drastically reduced?