§ 6. Mr. Rowlandasked the Postmaster-General how many pirate radio stations are broadcasting to Great Britain from within and without British territorial waters; and what action the British Government proposes to take to uphold national and international law in this matter.
§ Mr. Edward ShortTen stations in all. A Bill to enable the Government to deal with them will be introduced before the Summer Recess.
§ Mr. RowlandIn thanking my right hon. Friend and his predecessor for the recent announcements on legislation, may I ask whether he can indicate when this legislation will be implemented, as distinct from being introduced?
§ Mr. ShortThat, of course, depends on the House, which, like the mills of God, grinds slowly. But I imagine that it will have the Royal Assent very early in the new year.
§ Mr. BryanWill the right hon. Gentleman agree that the international law referred to in this Question has been strengthened by international agreement? Of the various countries which signed the agreement with Great Britain, may I ask him how many have succeeded in taking the action which they promised to take and why we have not been able to do so?
§ Mr. ShortI think that one country has ratified, and three other countries already have legislation to deal with the problem. We intend to introduce this Bill, which will get the Royal Assent shortly, and the pirates will be put out of business.
§ Mr. LiptonSide by side with this impending legislation, what arrangements are being made to satisfy what is obviously a 24-hour demand for this kind of music?
§ Mr. ShortThat is another question, but my predecessor indicated that we were looking urgently at the possibility of a national music programme, and we are actively pursuing that.
§ 33. Mr. Bryanasked the Postmaster-General what preliminary discussions he has had regarding future pogrammes to replace those of the pirate radio stations; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Edward ShortI would refer the hon. Member to my predecessor's reply to the debate on the Adjournment on 22nd June.
§ Mr. BryanCan the right hon. Gentleman say how long discussions about, shall we say, a permanent music programme have been going on? In view of the great importance of this subject, I feel that they should have been going on for a long time now.
§ Mr. ShortI cannot tell the hon. Gentleman how long they have been going on because I do not know, but they are going on very actively at the moment. I have been engaged on them this morning. I hope that we can bring these discussions to a conclusion in the not too far distant future.
§ Mr. O'MalleyWill my right hon. Friend give a categorical assurance that it is no part of the policy of this Government to allow commercial sound radio? Secondly, will he ensure that any new programme will provide substantial employment for live musicians?
§ Mr. ShortWith regard to the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, again I am quite sure that his union will ensure that that is the case. With regard to the first part of his question, we must await the White Paper which is coming out.