asked the Postmaster-General why it was decided to place in Life Magazine, Atlantic Edition, of 4th September, 1967, a full page advertisement by the Post Office about the Marine, &c. Broadcasting (Offences) Act at a cost of £1,190.

To ensure that those most likely to be affected by changes in the U.K. law on broadcasting transmissions were aware of the situation, advertisements were placed in specialist publications and local newspapers. These were selected on the advice of advertising agents.

Assuming that there was any justification for putting advertisements out of this kind, which I do not accept, was it not rather odd to put this one in a foreign publication? In what area does the Atlantic edition of Life circulate?

It circulates in Europe and has a circulation of about 250,000. It numbers among its readers the top businessmen in Europe. It was very important that they should be aware of the provisions of the Act. Justification for the advertisement is shown by the fact that we have not so far had to prosecute anyone under the Act.

Is this not really a pathetic and infuriating way of squandering Post Office money, especially in a year when Post Office charges are going up? Britain is only one of the 20 countries in which this magazine cir- culates. Who wants the Spaniards and the Yugoslays and the rest to know about the Act? Is it to be the practice of the Government to spend up to £20,000 on each Act as it goes through?

That is a rather silly question. In any case, Post Office charges are not going up this year. If the hon. Gentleman would like me to put in the Library a list of the expenditure incurred by the Conservative Government in publicising their legislation, I would be glad to do so.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects alternative parking arrangements to be available for vehicles using the Terrick Road sorting office in Wood Green.

They become available this week and are in use.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this will be a great relief to the people who live in this very narrow residential road, which is quite unsuitable for heavy traffic, who had reached the end of their tether? Now that these new arrangements have come into operation, will he look into the possibility of reorganising the sorting office so that the remaining vehicles use the front in Buckingham Road rather than the back in Terrick Road?

We are always trying to do what we can to improve administration of the sorting offices. My hon. Friend can rest assured that if we can do anything to assist in this case we will do it.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Government intends to participate in the laying of further transatlantic telephone cables.

We will participate in further transatlantic cable projects when circumstances warrant it, but for the next few years we expect to meet all our growing needs in this area by means of satellite communications.

What further proposals have the Government for the use of commercial satellites for telecommunications?

We hope to meet all our needs in the next few years by satellites. That at present in use over the Atlantic will be replaced by two, and we shall have to see where we go from there.

asked the Postmaster General (1) what proportion of total General Post Office expenditure is currently spent in Scotland; how much this has increased in each of the last five years; and what steps he is taking to increase it;

The proportion has remained almost constant over the period at about 8 per cent. Of the total spent in 1966–67, some £5¾ million went on contracts placed in Scotland for Post Office stores. I regret that full information about the proportion of these orders placed in Fife is not available. In addition to stores suppliers, our major plant suppliers have seven factories in the Scottish Development Area, but we do not know what proportion of our orders for the supply and installation of plant was manufactured in them. Nationally, however, we estimate that over 40 per cent. of these orders—worth some £50 million a year at present—are carried out in development areas.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that Answer will give considerable satisfaction to those of us who represent Scottish constituencies? Can he say what is the future of the A.E.I. factories in Fife, whether they will be run down or their employment prospects increased? When does he expect to receive a report from the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation on the future of the telecommunications industry and the prospect of the Post Office itself manufacturing some of its own equipment?

It is much too early to say anything about the A.E.I. factories, but this is naturally one of the things which we shall watch very carefully. I have already received the I.R.C. Report. The Bill which we hope to publish in January will, if Parliament agrees, give the Post Office Corporation power to manufacture.

What will be the employment potential of the bureau in Edinburgh?

I said that that would provide employment to a lesser extent. It will provide 80 jobs in Edinburgh, but the Post Office Savings Bank provides 5,000 jobs in Glasgow.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) if he will investigate the cause of a parcel posted in Grimsby on Monday 18th September at 10.15 a.m. not reaching Southampton until Saturday, 23rd September afternoon, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Louth; and if he will take steps to improve the service throughout North Lincolnshire;

The train services introduced two years ago have not worsened the postal services in North Lincolnshire. The great bulk of fully paid letters for this area is delivered on the next day after posting. The delay to the parcel for Southampton was probably caused by the industrial trouble on the railways. I regret I have been unable to discover the cause of the delay to the postcard which the hon. Member forwarded.

If it is not the change in railway facilities which has caused these additional delays, what on earth has caused them? My constituents in rural areas feel that they are being sacrificed for the money spent on people in the towns. Will the hon. Gentleman look at the rural position again?

Yes, I have no objection to having another look at the position in this area, but I think that everyone will agree that isolated cases of delay are not proof of a deteriorating service. Our information is that the service has improved, and we expect it to improve much more.

I hope that the hon. Gentleman will not allow the eloquence of my hon. Friend's request to lead him into making the changes suggested in Question No. 11, which might lead to a deter oration in the much improved service from which Market Rasen has benefited in the last six months.

asked the Postmaster-General why the general public were not informed of the Post Office's decision to accept cheques validated by bankers card for the purchase of stamps; what representations have been received concerning this lack of information; what action has been taken; and if he will make a statement.

Although there has been very little public complaint of lack of information, I am not satisfied that adequate publicity was given to this at the outset. A leaflet has now been issued, and I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. I am also considering whether further publicity would be useful. Perhaps I could make it clear that cheques for up to £30, supported by a banker's card, are accepted not only for the purchase of stamps but for any transaction.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the information leading to this Question was drawn from the Post Office Annual Report? As it displays a rather frightening degree of commercial ineptitude, can he say whether any disciplinary action has been taken against the officials involved?

Of course there has been no disciplinary action. It is a question of holding the balance—Question No. 1 complained of too much publicity.

asked the Postmaster-General why the names of Whittle and Baird were withdrawn from stamps showing British inventions; and if he will make a statement.

The purpose of these stamps was to celebrate British achievements in which many people played a part. It was never my intention to commemorate individuals, however outstanding their contribution, and no question of withdrawing names from stamps arose.

Can the right hon. Gentleman clear up whether it was originally intended to have a stamp commemorating Whittle's and Baird's inventions, and if it was withdrawn—as the official reason given by the Post Office was—to avoid historical controversy, is not this an insult to British inventors?

The hon. Gentleman is trying to make a great deal of nothing. Someone at a Press conference said that the names had been withdrawn. When a new stamp is being designed the printers submit many essays for me to see, and they make a number of changes in them and put on them various denominations, various types of print and so on, and we choose from them. On one of the essays the names appeared, but although Baird perfected the mechanical system, someone else perfected the electronic system; Whittle was the leader of a team; Fleming discovered the anti-bacterial properties of penicillin, but someone else applied them to human disease. Therefore, teams are involved in these things.

I understand that the distinguished committee which used to advise the Postmaster-General on the issue of new stamps has been dissolved. Can the right hon. Gentleman say what are the new arrangements for advice?

I dissolved the committee on 31st March because, although a distinguished committee which had given many years of very good service, it consisted entirely of designers, people nominated by the Council of Industrial Design. I felt that members of the general public, artists and Members of Parliament should be involved. I am now in the process of sending out letters to a number of ladies and gentlemen and hope that we shall assemble an equally distinguished committee to begin operating in the New Year.

asked the Postmaster-General on what date the postal giro system is to be opened for public use.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the intended date for the beginning of the National Giro.

I expect the service to open as planned in the autumn of 1968.

Is the Postmaster-General still insisting on a minimum transfer payment of 5s. in view of the huge number of amounts of less than 5s. which are now transmitted by the clumsy postal order service—over 200 million a year according to a reply of the Postmaster-General recently?

The hon. Gentleman has raised this on previous occasions and I made it quite clear that we are not wedded forevermore to the 5s. minimum. This was decided after very careful market research. I hope in some years' time that the other remittance services, money orders and postal orders, will be superseded entirely by this. When that point arrives we shall have to consider the 5s. minimum.

Can the right hon. Gentleman be rather more categoric about the date? My information is that it is unlikely to be met.

The hon. Gentleman's information is quite wrong. The giro will open as planned in the autumn of 1968.

Can my right hon. Friend undertake a survey to discover the number of additional civil servants, in addition to the normal establishment, which will be required for this extension?

I cannot offhand give the hon. Member the figures. It is a very considerable figure, but I will write to him.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is satisfied that adequate publicity has been given to his decision that fully paid letters at the 4d. rate now have priority in sorting and delivery over printed papers at the 3d. rate, which latter include birthday and other greetings cards, and that printed papers therefore are subject to delays; and if he will make a statement.

We gave large users of the post advance notice of the changes and we displayed notices in Post Office windows. We also issued information to the general Press and to trade and industrial journals. Nevertheless, some of our customers overlook the risk that greetings cards posted at the 3d. rate will not arrive in time and the hon. Member will be glad to know that we intend to give additional publicity to this matter early in the New Year.

May I thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply and say how glad I am that further information is to be made available to the general public? Is he aware that there is a serious side to this? Does he realise that hospital appointments with consultants have been missed by up to three days' late delivery when a 3d. stamp has been put on the card?

I am not aware of this, and if the hon. Gentleman will let me have any particular case, I will have the matter investigated.

asked the Postmaster-General what discussions he has had with the Gas Council over the radio control of Great Britain's gas distribution grid.

My Department has been informed only recently of the Gas Council's requirements and, although discussions with it have already been opened, there is, of course, still a very great deal of detail to be examined.

Since the gas network evidently could be controlled through the telephone system, would the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it would be utterly indefensible if, in addition to Stansted and other matters, the country must be further desecrated by the erection of hundreds of unnecessary masts?

I quite agree. I am just as anxious to preserve the countryside as the hon. Gentleman. I would not authorise the radio link—and I have to give a licence for this—unless I was sure that it was the best way of doing it and that it could not be done satisfactorily by land line. However, 1,300 miles of high pressure gas pipe is something which must be controlled with the very greatest care. This must be gone into carefully, and we are still far from coming to a conclusion on it.

Would the right hon. Gentleman recognise that where this line passes through flat country, like The Fens, these sort of towers which are to be erected will be particularly conspicuous? Will he, therefore, give an assurance that before the final siting of these towers is decided upon he will consult local planning authorities?

If I give a licence, the siting of the towers for the gas network would not be a matter for me but for the Gas Council, and it would have to get planning permission.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the establishment of his Department in Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and what is its staffing position.

The telephone manager's establishment numbers 2,471 posts: there are six vacancies. The head postmaster's establishment numbers 1,708 posts, with twenty-three vacancies.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Is he satisfied that he has sufficient fully-established staff in Newcastle? Will he seek to employ unemployed men for the Christmas postal rush?

That is a matter which, I am afraid, we must leave to the head postmaster, but I have no doubt that he will bear in mind what my hon. Friend has said and what I have said to him.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is satisfied with the progress being made by the building industry in fitting standard letter-boxes at the correct height on new developments.

Although in some places progress has been good, I would welcome a greater effort by the building industry as a whole to comply with the British Standard specifications for letter boxes.

Would my hon. Friend agree that every hon. Member has at some time suffered from the rat-trap type of postbox which is in use? Is not this cruelty to Parliamentary candidates as well as to postmen? What is being done actively to encourage the use of standard letter boxes?

I support the greater part of what my hon. Friend says. We have drawn the attention of architects, builders, local authorities and householders through various forms of publicity to the need to fit proper letter boxes, and we have sought the co-operation of various representative bodies concerned with building standards and the supply of letter boxes. I sincerely hope that progress will be made as a result of the application which we have made.

While taking further steps in this important matter, would the hon. Gentleman take the opportunity of taking steps regarding house numbers, which are of equal importance to his Department?

That is a reasonable observation which is very important to the people who are responsible for delivering the mail.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the total value of contracts placed by his Department in the Northern Region this year; and how this compares with the corresponding figures for 1964, 1965, and 1966, respectively.

I am sorry that separate figures are not kept for the Northern Region of the country. Our major plant suppliers have nine factories in the Northern Development Area. We do not know what proportion of our orders was manufactured in those factories. Nationally, however, we estimate that over 40 per cent. of these orders—worth some £50 million a year at present—are in the development areas.

Is my right hon. Friend aware—I am sure that he is—that these factories are important to the North-East? Can he assure me that he is having discussions with the firms concerned to ensure that they give the fullest employment possible?

My Department is currently discussing the question with the major plant suppliers. I must pay tribute to them. In the last two or three years, they have been extremely co-operative in setting up factories in development areas, and not least in the Northern Development Area. We are discussing the matter with them to see what further steps they can take.

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage, in ratio to population, is employed in his Department in Scotland, England and Wales.

The percentages are 1·6, 1·8 and 1·6, respectively, of the working population.

I thank my hon. Friend for that Answer. Has he plans for other work in Scotland?

The matter referred to by my right hon. Friend, the transfer of the Savings Bank to Glasgow, is well under way, and the staff is expected to exceed 5,000 by the mid-seventies. The great majority of them will be recruited locally. Reference has been made to the Philatelic Bureau, which has been moved from London to Edinburgh.

Is the move of the Post Office Savings Bank to Scotland, which was decided by the Conservative Government and which will bring 5,000 new jobs to Scotland, proceeding according to plan?

Yes. Everything is going just as we expected.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the intake of junior apprentices in the postal service in Scotland for the years 1966 and the nearest available date in 1967; and what is the anticipated intake in 1968.

I understand my hon. Friend is referring to recruits under 18 years of age. The figures are:

I thank my hon. Friend for his Answer, but would not he agree that consideration should be given to carrying out the policy of reorganisation within the service, which would mean recruiting more young people to the postal service?

I agree. We are ready—and we have taken a stand on this—to recruit school leavers as and when suitable vacancies arise. Wherever we can do that, it will be done.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the shortage of postmen in most areas resulting in a deteriorating delivery service, what new steps he is taking to recruit more women sorters and delivery workers.

The delivery service is not deteriorating. Serious shortages of postmen occur mainly in certain offices in the Midlands and the London area. In such places, we make continuous efforts to employ postwomen and part-timers whenever it is practicable to do so.

The fact is that 50 per cent. fewer women than men are now employed in the delivery services. Will the Postmaster-General make much more effort to recruit women in the Harrow area and in other nearby areas, because the delivery service is becoming a public scandal?

There are a number of women employed in the Harrow area. This is a problem which has been with successive Governments. The only difference between the employment of men and women is that women are not on pensionable service. Many of them have been employed for many years. We are, however, trying all the time to make progress in this problem, but I think that the hon. Member understands the difficulty. The service in Harrow is not deteriorating. It is, in fact, improving.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the postal service in Harrow is certainly not scandalous, that the number of postmen employed is almost up to establishment and that all my constituents are very grateful indeed for the hard work done by the Post Office?

asked the Postmaster-General what criteria are applied by his Department in determining the suitability of an area for a post office rather than a sub-post office.

The main criterion is the provision of an adequate service by the most economic means. Because the overheads are normally shared by the private business, sub-post offices are generally more economical than Crown offices and it is not now our policy to provide Crown offices except in large shopping and commercial centres.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the sub-post office facilities in Bed-font, in my constituency, which has a population of about 12,000, are wholly inadequate and, indeed, recently were wholly non-existent? Will his Department reconsider the recent decision to refuse a full Crown post office for Bed-font?

I know of the interest that my hon. Friend has had in this matter by the way he has pursued it over the last few weeks. I must, however, tell him that when the previous sub-postmaster gave notice, we had difficulty in finding a successor. To provide continuity of service, a new office had to be opened at short notice. I recognise that the accommodation so hastily provided last month was not at first satisfactory, but it has now been improved and the sub-postmaster is planning to extend his premises. I sincerely hope that what has already taken place and what is to be done will improve the services in my hon. Friend's constituency.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will ensure that by 1969 both the city and county of Londonderry will have full television reception coverage.

The coverage attained by their services is primarily a matter for the broadcasting authorities. B.B.C.1 and Independent Television arc already available generally in the city and county. The B.B.C. tells me that the main ultra high frequency station at Limavady should bring B.B.C.2, and colour television, to some 100,000 people by about mid-1969. A relay station, which should serve a further 50,000 people in the city of Londonderry, will follow shortly afterwards.

While I do not wish to see any delay, is the hon. Gentleman aware that Londonderry, with its density of population, is only to get the low-powered relay station, and then at a later date? Cannot the hon. Gentleman see that the two areas receive coverage at the same time and not later than 1969?

The relay station will afford satisfactory reception for the city, as I think the hon. Gentleman will agree, and when the main station at Limavady is operating the B.B.C. will be able to decide what further relay stations will be required.

asked the Postmaster-General in which areas of the United Kingdom listeners wishing to receive all recognised broadcasting services are obliged to purchase very high frequency sets.

Of the four recognised services broadcast on medium and long wave, Radio 3 has the lowest population coverage. V.H.F. sets are generally needed to receive Radio 3 in the following areas with the exception of areas of high population which are catered for by low-powered medium wave transmitters:

ENGLAND

North of a line from Blackpool, through Rochdale and Ripon, to Bridlington;

South-west of a line from Minehead to Swanage; the south-east coast from Deal to Seaford.

WALES

West of a line from Rhyl to Barry.

The whole Of SCOTLAND.

The whole of NORTHERN IRELAND.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the disappearance of the old Light programme wavelength means that many of my constituents in the Londonderry area believe that they cannot get reception except with V.H.F. sets? This also applies to the Third Programme. Will he see what can be done?

I agree that in western Ulster the programme can only be received on V.H.F., but I remind the hon. Gentleman that the V.H.F. policy was started by the last Government. However, I quite agree with that policy. I believe that it is right and the only way to proceed. But we are looking at the problems of Ulster.

In view of the importance of the figures in relation to the local radio experiment, has the right hon. Gentleman made a survey of approximately how many people possess V.H.F. sets? In Leicester, for example, where an experiment has started, has there been a great buying of sets?

Manufacturers have made cheap sets available in shops where local radio stations are starting and already there are a large number of V.H.F. sets in use. They are as cheap as any other transistor sets now.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will initiate a survey in Edinburgh to ascertain the implication of the recent changes in the British Broadcasting Corporation's long wavelength programmes, in as far as they affect pensioners and others with limited means who are unable to afford very high frequency receiving equipment.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the steps which have recently been taken to improve reception of Radio 2 in Scotland.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has yet taken action to improve the reception of the British Broadcasting Corporation's Radio 2 in Scotland.

As my hon. Friend told the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. G. Campbell) in answer to his Question on 9th November, the B.B.C. is carrying out tests to establish more precisely the extent of this problem. It tells me that it has not yet completed this study.—[Vol. 753, c. 144–5.]

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that a lot of regular feature programmes are the only bright spots in the lives of a great many elderly people with limited means, and that they are now most distressed to think that they may be denied these programmes in future unless they can get a V.H.F. set, which they are told to do by the B.B.C. and which they cannot afford?

I looked at the position in Edinburgh, in the hon. Gentleman's constituency, and provided his constituents' sets are in good order they ought to be able to receive 1,500 metres transmissions satisfactorily. Almost all areas can receive it provided that they use a simple aerial which costs about 5s.

How many complaints have been received by the B.B.C.? How many of these have been from Scotland, and if the survey shows that a lot of new hardship is being caused, will the B.B.C. consider changing wavelengths?

I do not know how many complaints the B.B.C. has received. I have received a few, not a great many, but I realise that there is a problem here. These stations are broadcasting just as they were before, only at certain hours of the day they are broadcasting a different programme. The B.B.C. is carrying out a survey to see what can be done to help. I agree that people get attached to The Dales and so on and like to hear them.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that there are special gaps in the reception in the North of Scotland and does he think it right that licence holders of many years' standing should have to buy a new set in order to hear familiar programmes because of the recent rearrangement?

There is this problem in the North of Scotland, the Lake District, the Pennine Valleys and Wales, and many other paces, because of the topography of the country. I agree that it is a problem, but listeners cannot expect the programmes to remain the same forever.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that old people are always susceptible to exploitation for political purposes by any party, and that this has happened in Scotland? Would he give some assurance that, when the examination has been made and some steps have been taken to improve the service, he will advertise these steps?

Most certainly. I think that there is a good deal in what my hon. Friend says. I repeat that almost everyone can get the long wave 1,500 metres provided they use a simple aerial. If they want advice on the kind of aerial and what it should consist of, the B.B.C. would be very happy to give it to them. The Droitwich long-wave station has doubled its power during daylight, and that helps a great deal.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will introduce legislation to charge reduced fees for television licences for old-age pensioners.

As regards old-age pensioners generally, I have nothing to add to my reply of 1st June to the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Longden).

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the House will be very satisfied with his reply? Could he go a little further and look again at the question of old-age pensioners generally, in view of the significance of television to many of them?

I have a great deal of sympathy in this matter, but we must draw the line somewhere. By great ingenuity on the part of my legal advisers, we have solved the problem of schools and of old people's homes. It was the Conservative Government which decided to enforce the full rigours of the law about old people's homes. We have solved that problem, and I think that we must draw the line at this point.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we on this side of the House certainly welcome his statement? However, would he agree that, instead of a reduction in the licence fee, old-age pensioners are likely to be asked in the coming months for a higher licence fee, and everybody knows that? Is it not time that the B.B.C. sought fresh revenue from advertising on Radio 1 instead of from the poor?

That is an entirely different question.

asked the Postmaster-General how many pirate radios are still broadcasting to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

There are two pirate stations still broadcasting off our shores out of the ten that were operating at the beginning of the year. The question of taking action against those concerned with these two stations for possible breaches of the Marine etc. Broadcasting (Offences) Act is not a matter for me, but I understand that on this point the hon. Member has a Question down next week for answer by my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it would appear that Radio Caroline, in particular, is flourishing? Does not he recall that when the Act was going through Parliament earlier this year he assured the House that it would be satisfactory to deal with the pirates? Would he now give an explanation?

I am sure that the party of law and order delights in the fact that Radio Caroline appears to be flourishing, but the hon. Gentleman will have noticed that the French Parliament recently ratified the European Agreement, the Irish Parliament is in process of doing so and we have no doubt that the Dutch Parliament will do so very shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on his proposals regarding the British Broadcasting Corporation licence fee.

I have nothing to add to the statement in the White Paper on Broadcasting; that is, that no increase in the fee will be required before 1968. I would, of course, give the House good notice of any increase.

As the Postmaster-General did not see fit to answer my earlier question, may I ask whether it is not now obvious that the legislation passed by the Government is placing fresh financial commitments on the B.B.C. which are forcing the Corporation to put up its licence fee? Would it not be better to think once again about the possibility of using local commercial radio, which would pay rather than cost us money?

No, Sir. The reason why the B.B.C.'s finances have got into a mess is that when the party opposite were in office they were asked by the B.B.C. for an increase in the price of the licence fee, but because they were afraid of losing the 1964 election the party opposite took no action.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that 1968 is just about a month away? Can he be a little more exact about the date which he has mentioned?

As Lord Hill has said, I have received a request for an increase in the licence fee. I have taken no decision on this yet.

asked the Postmaster-General when he will take steps to modernise the telephone system at Dover Marine Station, in view of the impression created by it on foreign visitors.

I am sorry that the public call offices at Dover Marine cannot be converted to automatic working until the replacement of the existing manual exchange at Dover in 1970.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these boxes are the most antiquated in the country and that one cannot even get through to the exchange without putting in 4d., and that they give a lamentable impression to foreign visitors and others coming from the highly up-to-date Continental systems?

I do not disagree with my hon. Friend's observations, but the equipment order for the new exchange is about to be placed. This is the earliest possible ordering in relation to the availability of the building.