§ 19. Mr. FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to enforce the ban of interviews by Sinn Fein representatives on news broadcasts uplinked from the United Kingdom and transmitted by satellite; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeBroadcasters licensed in the United Kingdom, whatever the source of their interviews, must abide by the restrictions and it is for the appropriate broadcasting regulatory authorities to enforce them.
§ Mr. FabricantIs my right hon. Friend aware that certain broadcasters in the United Kingdom are uplinking transmissions to satellites, which are rebroadcasting "Radio France", the "Voice of Israel", "Radio Sweden" and the "Voice of America", and are experiencing great difficulty in extricating quotes from Sinn Fein? Can he think of some ways in which those broadcasters can be assisted?
§ Mr. BrookeEnforcement of the restrictions and revocation of a radio licence would be a matter for the Radio Authority, but satellite broadcasting is nothing new: it has been with us since the restrictions were introduced.
§ Mr. BarnesIs not this a case for removing the ban, because Sinn Fein would then have to answer the proper interrogation of broadcasters and defend its advocacy of violence?
§ Mr. BrookeAt the beginning of last month, I answered a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Lady Olga Maitland) in which I said that the Government would keep that matter under constant review.