HC Deb 26 October 1966 vol 734 cc1007-9
9. Mr. Ian Gilmour

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to be able to make a statement on the Government's policy towards local sound broadcasting financed by advertising.

15. Mr. Fisher

asked the Postmaster-General whether, as a corollary to his proposed action against the pirate radio stations, he will allocate medium wave channels for legitimate local broadcasting on a commercial basis.

21. Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Postmaster-General if he will seek power to authorise commercial local sound broadcasting.

22. Mr. Ridsdale

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has to provide alternative broadcasting services, especially for fringe areas, now that he intends to restrict certain local broadcasting facilities.

50. Mr. Stratum Mills

asked the Postmaster-General what is the proposed date of publication of the White Paper on Broadcasting; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Short

I would ask the hon. Gentlemen to await the White Paper on Broadcasting, which will be issued very shortly.

Mr. Gilmour

Since the right hon. Gentleman's predecessor said on 3rd March that he expected to reveal the Government's intentions shortly after the General Election, does not the Postmaster-General think that it is now very overdue?

Mr. Short

I agree that it is taking a very long time but, as I have said time and again, we in this country have been bequeathed a broadcasting system which is extremely difficult to work. Half of it is publicly owned and the other half privately owned. It is from this dichotomy, as I have said before, that nearly all our troubles come, but the White Paper will be issued very shortly.

Mr. Griffiths

Why is the right hon. Gentleman so leery or so scared to go for legitimate local broadcasting stations? The United States, Canada and Australia have these local stations, so why not here?

Mr. Short

If the hon. Gentleman had listened to what I said last week he would have heard me say that I am much in favour of local broadcasting. I hope that he will await the White Paper.

Mr. Ridsdale

Since we have a mixed economy, why cannot we have mixed broadcasting? There are several of these radio stations off my constituency and they provide excellent broadcasting. Can the right hon. Gentleman assure my constituents that they will be replaced by some good local radio stations?

Mr. Short

We shall put something in their place.

Mr. Stratton Mills

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the White Paper will be published before the Second Reading of the Bill dealing with pirate stations and that we shall have time to debate the White Paper before the Second Reading of the Bill?

Mr. Short

I can give no such assurance. I have pointed out many times that there is no connection between the two. The pirate broadcasting stations are illegal, outside the law and must be closed down.

Mr. Fisher

While we all appreciate the need to end this pirate broadcasting, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman to bear in mind the great popularity of these programmes and the great demand for them and do his best to ensure that the demand is met?

Mr. Short

Yes, Sir. I do realise it and I understand that point of view. But the House should have no illusions. No legal radio station could do what the pirate stations are doing. The pirate stations ignore copyright laws and play records all day long. No local radio station under the law could do that.

Mr. O'Malley

Local broadcasting could serve a useful purpose, but will my right hon. Friend make clear that the Government have no intention of allowing private companies or individuals to run local sound broadcasting in this country?

Mr. Short

I replied to my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. O'Malley) on this in July. We will preserve the public service aspect of broadcasting in our proposals but I am afraid that he must await the White Paper for details.

Mr. Bryan

Does not the right hon. Gentleman's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher) admit that there is a close bearing between the anti-pirate Bill and the White Paper? Is it not the case that we are waiting for the Second Reading because the right hon. Gentleman wishes to put before the public the alternatives he has in mind?

Mr. Short

There is no connection whatever. I am aware of the ambivalence of the hon. Gentleman on the question of broadcasting. This illustrates the inherent lawlessness of the Conservative philosophy. The hon. Gentleman would not only throw overboard the rule of law in this case but every other rule of law as well if he could make a profit by doing so.

Mr. Ridsdale

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.