HC Deb 06 July 1966 vol 731 cc420-1
44 and 45. Mr. Boston

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what decision the Government has made about the proposal to set up local radio stations;

(2) when he expects to publish the results of his review of the broadcasting services; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Edward Short

The Government's review of broadcasting services, which includes the question of local sound broadcasting, is not yet completed, but the House will certainly be informed of decisions as soon as they have been taken.

Mr. Boston

Can my right hon. Friend say whether he is keeping open the idea of allowing the B.B.C. to go ahead with a pilot scheme? Can he also say whether reports this week, notably in The Times on Monday, that the Government have come down against commercial stations are correct? If so, many of us will feel very pleased about it.

Mr. Short

I cannot anticipate the findings of the review, but I can go as far as to assure my hon. Friend that I will certainly maintain public service principles in any proposals I bring to the House with regard to local sound broadcasting.

Mr. Mawby

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept that this decision must obviously go hand-in-hand with the decision concerning pirate radio stations? Will he disabuse his mind of the view put forward by his hon. Friend that local stations should be confined to the B.B.C.?

Mr. Short

I am afraid that I do not agree with that. This point was put from the Opposition benches when this matter was raised before. There is no connection between the two matters. We shall look at sound broadcasting on its merits, quite apart from the question of the pirate stations.

Mr. Bryan

Has the right hon. Gentleman had time to look back in his papers? It he has he will have found that the Answer he has given to this Question is the same answer as that which we have had for one-and-a-half years. Will he at least give us an assurance that before this Session is over we shall receive that White Paper?

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