§ 28. Mr. Newensasked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the progress made in his efforts to deal with the problems created by pirate broadcasting stations.
§ 64. Mr. Liptonasked the Postmaster-General when he will take action to end the operations of pirate broadcasting stations.
§ Mr. BennAs I said in my Answer to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Eldon Griffiths) on 4th February, legislation will be introduced as soon as practicable.
§ Mr. NewensIs my right hon. Friend aware of the complaints which have been made by musicians in this country about the infringement of copyright and the evasion of taxation by pirate radio stations? Would he bear these matters in mind when considering the urgency of dealing with this question?
§ Mr. BennYes, I have had representations from the Musicians' Union and the industry and others and I will certainly take this point into consideration.
Mr. BuchanWill my right hon. Friend further keep in mind the serious effect that this is having on the record industry because of the drop in record sales which, incidentally, should please hon. Members opposite because it helps our exports?
§ Mr. CrawshawIs my right hon. Friend aware that many people in the country, including myself, derive a certain amount of welcome recreation from listening to such programmes and that many people would not view with kindness a Government which merely removed such programmes without replacing them from another source?
§ Mr. BennIf I understand the point my hon. Friend is making, I am sure that he would not really derive any satisfaction from listening to a "pirate" if he contemplated—as he should—the fact that this is stolen copyright; that it is preventing other countries from listening to their radio stations because it is in breach of the Copenhagen Agreement and, in fact, this is not the way to meet the need, however great that need may be.
§ Sir R. ThompsonWill the right hon. Gentleman firmly resist all pressure from vested interests to deprive the British 509 public of a very good and amusing programme? Would he regard it as a spur to "gee-up" the B.B.C. to provide something like it?
§ Mr. Gibson-WattThe right hon. Gentleman will have noticed that not only from the benches on this side of the House but from the benches behind him there has been a demand for a certain type of programme, whatever one may think about pirate radios. Cannot he go a little further and say what alternative he will produce if the Government are to do away with them?
§ Mr. BennThere is to be a debate on broadcasting tomorrow in which, perhaps, the hon. Gentleman will take part—and in which I hope to take part—which will provide an opportunity to consider the whole future of broadcasting in this country. It is my intention to make reference to the pirate radio problem in all its aspects.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. William Hamilton, Question No. 29.
§ Mr. LiptonOn a point of order. This Question was being answered with Question. No. 64, which I have on the Order Paper.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am sure that the hon. Gentleman will understand and so will the House. I do not yet feel secure in relaxing the proposition which I had to put before the House on a previous occasion.
§ Mr. HamlingHe is not in the Syndicate.
§ Mr. SpeakerThere seems to be some confusion. I am calling Mr. William Hamilton. I do not think that there is a reply.
§ Mr. LiptonOn a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the adjournment at the earliest possible moment.