HC Deb 22 July 1982 vol 28 cc517-8
3. Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to bring forward legislation to strengthen the enforcement powers available to control illegal citizens band transmission and to provide powers to ban the sale of illicit equipment.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Timothy Raison)

It remains our intention to bring such legislation forward as soon as parliamentary time permits.

Mr. Taylor

The problem is urgent. Does my right hon. Friend realise that many people ask why they should pay a substantial television licence fee when reception is upset by illegal CB radios? Why do we allow illegal equipment to be imported and sold when it cannot be used legally? It is nonsense to allow people to buy goods that cannot be used legally.

Mr. Raison

I agree that the problem is urgent. We hope that the necessary provisions will be included in the telecommunications legislation foreshadowed in the statement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry on 19 July. Our proposals will cover the sale and advertising of equipment that we do not want.

Dr. Edmund Marshall

There are delays of up to six months in my part of the country between a complaint being made and its investigation by the enforcement authorities. What are the Government doing to increase the number of staff available for such duties?

Mr. Raison

We are very concerned about the problem, and we recognise that delays take place. In conjunction with the police and the radio interference service we are trying to ensure that the problem is tackled as vigorously as possible. However, the House will recognise that the police, in particular, have many other calls on their time.

Mr. Dudley Smith

Is my right hon. Friend aware that legal users are causing interference and that many television viewers are having to buy new sets or—if they rent sets—to pay extra to have them modified to circumvent the interference?

Mr. Raison

We have never concealed the fact that problems would arise from legal 27MHz FM sets as well as from illegal sets. However, I have no doubt that the great bulk of interference derives from the illegal sets on the market. The sooner people stop using them, the better for all concerned.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Does illegal CB transmission include the use of equipment that is not licensed? Is not the reason that it is not licensed the high licence fee? Is there not massive licence evasion and will the right hon. Gentleman reduce the fee in the proposed legislation?

Mr. Raison

I reject the hon. Gentleman's contention. A licence fee of £10 is perfectly fair, and that is borne out by the fact that nearly 300,000 licences have been issued.