Anguilla (Hansard, 26 January 1994)

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the refurbishment of the Governor's mansion in Anguilla is proceeding on time and within cost limits; what is the expected completion date and total cost; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Goodlad
The first stage of refurbishment of the governor's residence in Anguilla began in April 1993 and was completed in October 1993. The second stage began in December 1993 and is programmed for completion in July 1994. The project suffered some delay at an early stage, but is now proceeding on schedule and within the total works cost estimate of £310,000.
259W

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what complaints procedures exist for complaints of political bias or inaccuracy by the media in Anguilla.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
All complaints are referred by the Director of Information and Broadcasting to the Chief Minister of Anguilla.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subsidy is paid to Radio Anguilla by Her Majesty's Government.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
No subsidy is paid to Radio Anguilla by Her Majesty's Government.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who is responsible for the appointment and employment of staff at Radio Anguilla.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
The establishments division of the Government of Anguilla, acting on the recommendation of the Public Service Commission, is responsible for the appointment and employment of staff at Radio Anguilla.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what outstanding applications exist for licences to broadcast from radio stations in Anguilla.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
There are no outstanding applications for licences to broadcast from radio stations in Anguilla.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the role and responsibility of the Governor of Anguilla regarding complaints against Radio Anguilla.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Complaints against Radio Anguilla fall within the portfolio of the Chief Minister, not the governor.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will issue guidelines to Radio Anguilla to ensure the political impartiality of that radio station in the forthcoming general elections and beyond.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Additional guidelines for Radio Anguilla staff are not required in the period leading up to the general election. The governor is confident that Radio Anguilla will continue to operate free from all political interference.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the Radio Authority's guidelines regarding political coverage for radio stations in the Caribbean dependent territory of Anguilla.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
I consider the guidelines to be appropriate, as they are based on the practice adopted by the BBC. These are kept under review by the Department of Information and Broadcasting and updated where necessary.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the independence of Radio Anguilla from the Government of Anguilla; and if he will make a statement.
260W

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Radio Anguilla is part of the Department of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of Anguilla and, as such, is free from any form of censorship.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who is responsible for the issuing of licences for radio broadcasts on Anguilla.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Under Anguilla's Telecommunications Ordinance, the licensing authority is the telecommunications officer of the Government of Anguilla.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is prepared to set up a training programme for employees of Radio Anguilla at the BBC World Service.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
A training programme with the BBC for employees of Radio Anguilla already exists.

§ Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects of a free and fair process in the forthcoming general elections in Anguilla; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
I am confident that, as in the past, the forthcoming elections in Anguilla will be conducted in a fair and democratic manner.