HC Deb 21 January 1982 vol 16 c404
10. Mr. Hal Miller

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the revenue from licences issued for citizens band radio.

Mr. Raison

Just over £1 million by 31 December 1981.

Mr. Miller

In congratulating my right hon. Friend on his appointment to the Privy Council, may I say that I hope that he will not think it churlish if I suggest that it is not entirely due to his work on citizens band radio. We were very grateful for his giving freedom of the air to citizens band practitioners, but will he agree that the revenue figure he has just announced would be greatly increased if the licence did not restrict the user to the frequency chosen by the Home Office, which renders its use illegal in all other countries of Europe and takes no account of the many pre-existing users of the AM frequency who, if they all transferred to his chosen frequency, would cause it to be grossly overcrowded?

Mr. Raison

I am not quite sure how to take my hon. Friend's congratulations, but I thank him for his remarks. If we went down the path of legalising AM, which is what seems to be implied in his question, there might be more licence revenue, but there would be a great deal of additional interference. The problem in this area is interference with television sets and essential services, and we do not believe that that is tolerable.

Mr. Onslow

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the Post Office is trying hard enough to track down the people operating illegal sets, which are causing interference and making life hell for their neighbours?

Mr. Raison

I think that the Post Office is trying hard, but there is still excessive interference. I am happy to note that there was a considerable drop between September and December. I hope that that will continue now that a legal service is available, but we are likely to have to bring in new and tighter legislation.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Is it true that only 100, 000 licences have been issued? If so, will the right hon. Gentleman consult the Secretary of State for Trade to discover how many FM sets have been imported over the last six months, to see whether there is any correlation? Will he reconsider the cost of a licence, which at £10 exceeds what many reasonable people feel to be a sensible figure?

Mr. Raison

I do not think that 100, 000 licences in the two months of November and December is a bad or disappointing figure.

Mr. Allen McKay

Will the Minister consider the meanness of his right hon. Friend concerning concessionary television licences and take steps to provide concessionary CB licences for those to whom his right hon. Friend will not give a concessionary television licence?

Mr. Raison

I do not think that television licences are covered by this subject and I doubt whether there are many old-age pensioners who would want CB licences.