Hospital Broadcasting Services

HC Deb 13 May 1981 vol 4 cc757-8

9. Mr. Harry Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ask health boards to discuss with hospital broadcasting services in their health board area the difficulties they are facing as a result of the increase in the land line rental; and if he will make a statement.

The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Russell Fairgrieve)

The volunteer hospital broadcasters provide a valued service to patients and many boards already assist that work. They will, I am sure, be happy to discuss any problems which the hospital broadcasting services wish to raise with them. The determination of rental charges for land lines is, however, a matter for the Post Office.

Mr. Ewing

Is not the Minister aware that the hospital broadcasting services now face serious problems because of the decision to increase their land line rental by 50 per cent. each year until 1984? Against the background of an increase from £1,000 to £5,000 per annum, would it not be better and far more constructive if the Minister, through the health boards, came to an arrangement with such organisations as the Edinburgh hospital broadcasting service and Radio Royal in Falkirk to guarantee a specific income each year to meet the enormous increase in land line rental?

Mr. Fairgrieve

The charges have not been raised since 1975—

Mr. Ewing

That is because the Labour Government kept them down.

Mr. Fairgrieve

They were raised in 1980 because of inflation under the Labour Government. The hon. Gentleman is, once again, wrong. The suggestion is that over a four-year period the charges be increased by a factor of between two and five times, but never by more than 50 per cent. in one year. Last year, as a guarantee of income, we gave permission for the services to use advertising time if they so wished.

Mr. Myles

Is my hon. Friend aware of the considerable enterprise of those who run the Buckie hospital broadcasting service and raise a large amount of money voluntarily to help themselves to a great extent?

Mr. Fairgrieve

Knowing who represents Buckie in Parliament, I am not the least bit surprised at the enterprise in that area.