HC Deb 08 May 1990 vol 172 cc123-6

'( ) (1) When allocating licences for the provision of regional television services, the Commission shall ensure that licences are awarded only to companies that can demonstrate commercial viability, technical and professional competence and a commitment to diversity and quality in the range of programmes they intend to make or broadcast.

(2) Before awarding licences the Commission shall publish the names of all applicants who satisfy the conditions specified in (1) above, together with details of their applications and details of the arrangements for a specified period of public consultation which shall include the manner in which public comment is invited.

(3) The Commission shall provide all the applicants referred to in (2) above with a digest of the views submitted during the consultation period, and invite applicants to modify their applications where appropriate prior to a final decision on the awarding of licences.

(4) The primary consideration when awarding licences shall be the provision of a diverse range of quality programmes appropriate to the area to be served, and the extent to which the applicant has shown himself willing to respond to public comment on his original application.'.— [Mr. Corbett.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

Motion made, and Question put, That the clause be read a Second time:—

The House divided: Ayes 158, Noes 262.

Division No. 195] [10.13 pm
AYES
Abbott, Ms Diane Duffy, A. E. P.
Allen, Graham Dunnachie, Jimmy
Anderson, Donald Dunwoody, Hon Mrs Gwyneth
Archer, Rt Hon Peter Eadie, Alexander
Armstrong, Hilary Eastham, Ken
Ashton, Joe Fearn, Ronald
Banks, Tony (Newham NW) Fisher, Mark
Barnes, Harry (Derbyshire NE) Flynn, Paul
Barnes, Mrs Rosie (Greenwich) Forsythe, Clifford (Antrim S)
Barron, Kevin Foster, Derek
Battle, John Foulkes, George
Beckett, Margaret Fraser, John
Beith, A. J. Fyfe, Maria
Benn, Rt Hon Tony Galloway, George
Bennett, A. F. (D'nt'n & R'dish) George, Bruce
Bermingham, Gerald Gilbert, Rt Hon Dr John
Blunkett, David Golding, Mrs Llin
Boateng, Paul Gordon, Mildred
Boyes, Roland Grant, Bernie (Tottenham)
Brown, Nicholas (Newcastle E) Griffiths, Nigel (Edinburgh S)
Bruce, Malcolm (Gordon) Griffiths, Win (Bridgend)
Buchan, Norman Grocott, Bruce
Buckley, George J. Heal, Mrs Sylvia
Caborn, Richard Hinchliffe, David
Callaghan, Jim Hogg, N. (C'nauld & Kilsyth)
Campbell, Menzies (Fife NE) Home Robertson, John
Campbell-Savours, D. N. Hood, Jimmy
Canavan, Dennis Howells, Geraint
Carlile, Alex (Mont'g) Howells, Dr. Kim (Pontypridd)
Clarke, Tom (Monklands W) Hoyle, Doug
Clelland, David Hughes, John (Coventry NE)
Clwyd, Mrs Ann Hughes, Roy (Newport E)
Cook, Robin (Livingston) Hughes, Simon (Southwark)
Corbett, Robin Illsley, Eric
Corbyn, Jeremy Ingram, Adam
CTowther, Stan Janner, Greville
Cryer, [...]ob Jones, Ieuan (Ynys Môn)
Cunliffe, Lawrence Kennedy, Charles
Dalyell, Tam Kilfedder, James
Darling, Alistair Kinnock, Rt Hon Neil
Davis, Terry (B'hatv Hodge H'I) Kirkwood, Archy
Dewar, Donald Leadbitter, Ted
Dixon, Don Leighton, Ron
Lestor, Joan (Eccles) Pendry, Tom
Lewis, Terry Pike, Peter L.
Livingstone, Ken Powell, Ray (Ogmore)
Lloyd, Tony (Stretford) Primarolo, Dawn
Lofthouse, Geoffrey Reid, Dr John
McAllion, John Richardson, Jo
McAvoy, Thomas Robertson, George
Macdonald, Calum A. Rogers, Allan
McFall, John Ross, Ernie (Dundee W)
McKay, Allen (Barnsley West) Rowlands, Ted
McKelvey, William Sedgemore, Brian
McLeish, Henry Skinner, Dennis
Maclennan, Robert Smith, C. (Isl'ton & F'bury)
McWilliam, John Smyth, Rev Martin (Belfast S)
Madden, Max Soley, Clive
Mahon, Mrs Alice Spearing, Nigel
Marek, Dr John Steinberg, Gerry
Marshall, David (Shettleston) Strang, Gavin
Martlew, Eric Taylor, Mrs Ann (Dewsbury)
Maxton, John Turner, Dennis
Meale, Alan Vaz, Keith
Michael, Alun Walker, A. Cecil (Belfast N)
Michie, Bill (Sheffield Heeley) Wallace, James
Michie, Mrs Ray (Arg'I & Bute) Walley, Joan
Mitchell, Austin (G't Grimsby) Wardell, Gareth (Gower)
Molyneaux, Rt Hon James Watson, Mike (Glasgow, C)
Moonie, Dr Lewis Welsh, Michael (Doncaster N)
Morgan, Rhodri Williams, Rt Hon Alan
Morley, Elliot Williams, Alan W. (Carm'then)
Morris, Rt Hon A. (W'shawe) Winnick, David
Mowlam, Marjorie Wise, Mrs Audrey
Mullin, Chris Worthington, Tony
Murphy, Paul Wray, Jimmy
Nellist, Dave Young, David (Bolton SE)
Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon
O'Brien, William Tellers for the Ayes:
Paisley, Rev Ian Mr. Frank Haynes and
Patchett, Terry Mr. Martyn Jones.
NOES
Aitken, Jonathan Cash, William
Alexander, Richard Chalker, Rt Hon Mrs Lynda
Alison, Rt Hon Michael Channon, Rt Hon Paul
Allason, Rupert Chapman, Sydney
Amess, David Chope, Christopher
Amos, Alan Churchill, Mr
Arbuthnot, James Clark, Dr Michael (Rochford)
Ashby, David Clark, Sir W. (Croydon S)
Aspinwall, Jack Clarke, Rt Hon K. (Rushcliffe)
Baker, Rt Hon K. (Mole Valley) Colvin, Michael
Baker, Nicholas (Dorset N) Conway, Derek
Baldry, Tony Coombs, Anthony (Wyre F'rest)
Batiste, Spencer Coombs, Simon (Swindon)
Bendall, Vivian Couchman, James
Bennett, Nicholas (Pembroke) Cran, James
Benyon, W. Currie, Mrs Edwina
Bevan, David Gilroy Davies, Q. (Stamf'd & Spald'g)
Blaker, Rt Hon Sir Peter Davis, David (Boothferry)
Bonsor, Sir Nicholas Day, Stephen
Boswell, Tim Devlin, Tim
Bottomley, Peter Dorrell, Stephen
Bowden, Gerald (Dulwich) Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James
Bowis, John Dover, Den
Boyson, Rt Hon Dr Sir Rhodes Dunn, Bob
Braine, Rt Hon Sir Bernard Eggar, Tim
Brandon-Bravo, Martin Evans, David (Welwyn Hatf'd)
Brazier, Julian Evennett, David
Bright, Graham Favell, Tony
Brown, Michael (Brigg & Cl't's) Field, Barry (Isle of Wight)
Bruce, Ian (Dorset South) Fishburn, John Dudley
Buchanan-Smith, Rt Hon Alick Fookes, Dame Janet
Buck, Sir Antony Forman, Nigel
Budgen, Nicholas Forth, Eric
Burt, Alistair Fowler, Rt Hon Sir Norman
Butler, Chris Fox, Sir Marcus
Butterfill, John Franks, Cecil
Carlisle, John, (Luton N) Freeman, Roger
Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln) French, Douglas
Carrington, Matthew Fry, Peter
Carttiss, Michael Gale, Roger
Gardiner, George Marlow, Tony
Garel-Jones, Tristan Marshall, John (Hendon S)
Gill, Christopher Marshall, Michael (Arundel)
Glyn, Dr Sir Alan Martin, David (Portsmouth S)
Goodhart, Sir Philip Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin
Goodson-Wickes, Dr Charles Mellor, David
Gorman, Mrs Teresa Meyer, Sir Anthony
Gorst, John Miller, Sir Hal
Gow, Ian Mills, Iain
Grant, Sir Anthony (CambsSW) Miscampbell, Norman
Greenway, Harry (Ealing N) Mitchell, Andrew (Gedling)
Greenway, John (Ryedale) Mitchell, Sir David
Gregory, Conal Moate, Roger
Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth N) Monro, Sir Hector
Grist, Ian Montgomery, Sir Fergus
Ground, Patrick Morrison, Sir Charles
Hague, William Moss, Malcolm
Hamilton, Hon Archie (Epsom) Mudd, David
Hamilton, Neil (Tatton) Neale, Gerrard
Hampson, Dr Keith Nelson, Anthony
Hanley, Jeremy Neubert, Michael
Hannam, John Newton, Rt Hon Tony
Hargreaves, A. (B'ham H'Il Gr') Nicholls, Patrick
Hargreaves, Ken (Hyndburn) Nicholson, David (Taunton)
Harris, David Oppenheim, Phillip
Haselhurst, Alan Page, Richard
Hawkins, Christopher Paice, James
Hayhoe, Rt Hon Sir Barney Patnick, Irvine
Hayward, Robert Pattie, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey
Heathcoat-Amory, David Pawsey, James
Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael Porter, Barry (Wirral S)
Hicks, Mrs Maureen (Wolv' NE) Porter, David (Waveney)
Hicks, Robert (Cornwall SE) Price, Sir David
Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L. Raison, Rt Hon Timothy
Hind, Kenneth Redwood, John
Holt, Richard Renton, Rt Hon Tim
Howard, Rt Hon Michael Rhodes James, Robert
Howarth, Alan (Strat'd-on-A) Riddick, Graham
Hughes, Robert G. (Harrow W) Ridsdale, Sir Julian
Hunt, David (Wirral W) Roberts, Wyn (Conwy)
Hunter, Andrew Rossi, Sir Hugh
Hurd, Rt Hon Douglas Rost, Peter
Irvine, Michael Rowe, Andrew
Irving, Sir Charles Rumbold, Mrs Angela
Jack, Michael Ryder, Richard
Jackson, Robert Sackville, Hon Tom
Janman, Tim Sayeed, Jonathan
Johnson Smith, Sir Geoffrey Shaw, David (Dover)
Jones, Gwilym (Cardiff N) Shaw, Sir Giles (Pudsey)
Jones, Robert B (Herts W) Shephard, Mrs G. (Norfolk SW)
Jopling, Rt Hon Michael Shepherd, Colin (Hereford)
Kellett-Bowman, Dame Elaine Shepherd, Richard (Aldridge)
Key, Robert Shersby, Michael
King, Roger (B'ham N'thfield) Sims, Roger
Kirkhope, Timothy Skeet, Sir Trevor
Knapman, Roger Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield)
Knight, Greg (Derby North) Spicer, Sir Jim (Dorset W)
Knight, Dame Jill (Edgbaston) Spicer, Michael (S Worcs)
Knowles, Michael Squire, Robin
Lamont, Rt Hon Norman Stanbrook, Ivor
Latham, Michael Steen, Anthony
Lawrence, Ivan Stern, Michael
Lee, John (Pendle) Stevens, Lewis
Leigh, Edward (Gainsbor'gh) Stewart, Allan (Eastwood)
Lester, Jim (Broxtowe) Stewart, Andy (Sherwood)
Lightbown, David Stewart, Rt Hon Ian (Herts N)
Lilley, Peter Stradling Thomas, Sir John
Lloyd, Sir Ian (Havant) Sumberg, David
Lloyd, Peter (Fareham) Summerson, Hugo
Luce, Rt Hon Richard Tapsell, Sir Peter
Lyell, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas Taylor, Ian (Esher)
Macfarlane, Sir Neil Tebbit, Rt Hon Norman
MacGregor, Rt Hon John Temple-Morris, Peter
MacKay, Andrew (E Berkshire) Thompson, D. (Calder Valley)
Maclean, David Thompson, Patrick (Norwich N)
McNair-Wilson, Sir Patrick Thome, Neil
Madel, David Thurnham, Peter
Malins, Humfrey Townsend, Cyril D. (B'heath)
Mans, Keith Tracey, Richard
Maples, John Tredinnick, David
Trippier, David Wheeler, Sir John
Trotter, Neville Whitney, Ray
Twinn, Dr Ian Widdecombe, Ann
Vaughan, Sir Gerard Wiggin, Jerry
Viggers, Peter Winterton, Mrs Ann
Waddington, Rt Hon David Winterton, Nicholas
Walden, George Woodcock, Dr. Mike
Walker, Bill (T'slde North) Yeo, Tim
Waller, Gary Young, Sir George (Acton)
Wardle, Charles (Bexhill)
Warren, Kenneth Tellers for the Noes:
Watts, John Mr. Tony Durant and
Wells, Bowen Mr. John M. Taylor.

Question accordingly negatived.

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