Radio Authority: Licence Terms (Hansard, 23 July 1998)

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, the Radio Authority is responsible under the provisions of the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996 for the award and regulation of independent radio licences in the UK, including any variations in licence terms. Those are not matters on which it is appropriate for the Government to comment.

§ Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. Is he aware of anxiety that a considerable number of small, local, independent radio stations have been merged into larger groups? As a consequence, many locally produced programmes have been transferred into network programmes mainly produced in London. Does he agree that that undermines the whole purpose of local commercial radio stations? Does he agree also that the Radio Authority is showing yet again that regulatory agencies are too close to the producers and not close enough to the interests of the users?

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, it is certainly the case that the 1996 Act made it possible for major players in the commercial radio field to expand their area of operations. Some of us observed the matter with disfavour at the time. However, at the moment we do not have an opportunity to introduce primary legislation. On the other hand, there are some improvements in transparency. From the autumn the authority will have to give reasons for its award of a licence. It will have to widen its Promise of Performance so that it covers the statutory duties to secure the character of services. I do not expect that to be sufficient consolation for my noble friend because it is certainly the case that the amount of purely local programming in some parts of the country has declined.

§ Lord Chalfont
My Lords, perhaps I should declare a past interest as a former chairman of the Radio Authority. Is the Minister aware that I, for one, welcome 1032 his assurance that the authority will be allowed to get on with its job under the Broadcasting Act without too much interference from government? But does he believe it is wise that the authority should give reasons for the award or non-award of licences? Also, can he say in more specific terms in what form of consultation the authority will engage before it changes the important Promise of Performance regime?

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, my description of the position as it stands at present is an accurate reflection of the facts. The whole question of regulation of radio for the longer-term future is discussed in the Green Paper on convergence which we published recently. There is no reason to assume that in the longer term it will necessarily be right to have the same regime of regulation—for example, for local and community radio—as for national radio. In that sense, though we have no immediate plans for legislation, we are opening out the field. The noble Lord queried whether it is right for the authority to give reasons for its decisions. I should have thought that that was an essential part of transparency in regulation.

§ Lord Ewing of Kirkwood
My Lords, in his original reply my noble friend said that these are not matters upon which the Government should comment. Being the simpleton that I am, then why is my noble friend commenting?

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, my noble friend is the most subtle simpleton that I know. I have not commented and refrain from commenting on any specific decision of the Radio Authority. And I shall resist any temptation to make me do so.

§ Lord Monkswell
My Lords, bearing in mind the experience of successful commercial operations owned and operated by local authorities or consortia of local authorities—for example, Manchester International Airport—can my noble friend tell the House whether it is possible for local authorities or groups of local authorities to own commercial radio stations? If it is not possible, have the Government any plans to allow it to become possible?

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, one of the matters which we are discussing and which is covered in the Green Paper is increased opportunities for all forms of community radio, whether they are local authorities, hospitals or student radio; for example, in educational establishments. We hope that there will be an expansion of this kind of community radio which can be carried on frequencies that have limited geographical scope.

§ Lord Inglewood
My Lords, before asking my question I should declare an interest in a company which is interested in acquiring radio licences. Is the Minister satisfied with the progress that is being made towards the coming on to air of digital terrestrial radio, and can he say when he expects the multiplexers to be broadcasting?

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, the noble Lord and other noble Lords will be aware that the Select Committee in another place was keen that we should go for a "big bang" approach to digital radio and television. In our Green Paper we have taken a much more evolutionary approach. We believe it is likely that progress towards digital radio and television will be market-led and take a considerable time. We are not in a position to make forecasts of when that will happen.