§ Q9. Mr. Bryanasked the Prime Minister if the public statement of the Postmaster-General at a Press conference regarding pirate radio stations on 8th December represents Government policy.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir.
§ Mr. BryanAs the Postmaster-General has said a number of times over the last 15 months in his most dynamic way that he intends to legislate against pirate radio stations and yet nothing has happened, will the Prime Minister tell the House and, through it, the millions of listeners who are interested in this, first, whether he intends to stop the pirate radio stations by law and, secondly, if so, how he is going to replace the programmes thus destroyed?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is not only my right hon. Friend who said it in his dynamic way. His predecessor said it in a much less dynamic way. But the policy has not yet been fitted into the legislative programme of either Government. The position is that it will be when we can get it into the legislative programme. The hon. Gentleman is aware of the very acute pressure on Parliamentary time. That is why we are expecting full cooperation on this and other Measures from hon. Gentlemen opposite. As to the two points raised, because of the dangers arising from clashes of wavelengths and interference with really important broadcasting channels on the Continent and elsewhere, including lifeboats and other things, it is necessary to legislate. We are internationally committed to do so. With regard to replacing the programmes, I agree that this is certainly desirable and there are discussions going on at the present time to ascertain what can be done to replace these programmes, which are certainly popular with a great many people, if not with the hon. Gentleman.