HC Deb 02 July 1996 vol 280 cc854-6

6A.—(1) The Secretary of State may by order provide that, where a digital sound programme service is provided in any area, the holding, by a person who runs a local newspaper or local newspapers as mentioned in paragraph 6(1), of two or more licences to provide in that area local radio services which for the purposes of paragraph 6 share a potential audience with each other or with each of the others shall, instead of being subject to the restrictions specified in paragraph 6, be subject to other restrictions specified in the order.

(2) For the purposes of any order under sub-paragraph (1), a person shall be treated as holding a licence if the licence is held by a person connected with him.'

No. 67, in page 131, line 22, leave out from beginning to 'that' in line 23 and insert 'permitted period'.—[Mr. Wood.]

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Michael Morris)

I shall now call amendment No. 68—

Dr. Moonie

I am on my feet, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I want to speak on amendment No. 67.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

It is too late. Voices have to be heard—physical movement is not enough.

Amendments made: No. 68, in page 131, leave out lines 37 to 40 and insert— `(5) Subject to sub-paragraph (6), in this paragraph "the permitted period" means a period beginning with the day on which the licence holder becomes, or becomes connected with, the proprietor of the national or local newspaper ("the relevant day") and ending—

  1. (a) in a case where the licence holder has, before the relevant day, notified the relevant authority that he will become, or become connected with the proprietor of that national or local newspaper on that day, at the end of the period of three months beginning with the relevant day, or
  2. (b) in any other case, at the end of the period of three months beginning with the day on which the licence holder notifies the relevant authority that he has become, or has become connected with, the proprietor of that national or local newspaper.
(6) The relevant authority may in a particular case, after consultation with the licence holder, notify him before the time when the permitted period would (apart from this sub-paragraph) have ended that the permitted period in that case is to be calculated as if the references in sub-paragraph (5) to three months were references to such longer period specified in the notification as the relevant authority reasonably consider necessary in the circumstances.'

No. 69, in page 131, line 40, at end insert— '() Nothing in any of the preceding provisions of this Schedule shall be construed as affecting the operation of this paragraph or paragraph 8 or 9.'

No. 70, in page 131, line 51, leave out from beginning to 'that' in line 52 and insert 'permitted period'.

No. 71, in page 132, line 17, leave out from first 'the' to 'that' in line 18 and insert 'permitted period'.

No. 72, in page 132, leave out lines 36 to 41. No. 73, in page 132, line 44, at end insert— '(8) In this paragraph "the permitted period" has the meaning given by paragraph 7(5) and (6).'

No. 74, in page 132, line 48, leave out 'relevant authority' and insert 'Commission'.

No. 75, in page 132, line 48, leave out from 'determine' to first 'that' in line 51 and insert `before the end of the period specified in sub-paragraph (1A)'.

No. 76, in page 132, line 52, at end insert— `(1A) The period referred to in sub-paragraph (1) is the period of three months beginning with the day on which the Commission are notified pursuant to section 19(3) of the 1996 Act of an agreement to provide the digital programme service, or such longer period beginning with that day as the Commission may in a particular case, after consultation with the licence holder, notify him during those three months as being the period which they reasonably consider necessary in the circumstances.'

No. 77, in page 133, line 4, leave out `relevant authority' and insert 'Commission'.

No. 78, in page 133, line 4, leave out from first 'the' to 'that' in line 6 and insert 'permitted period'.

No. 79, in page 133, line 22, leave out 'relevant authority' and insert 'Commission'.

No. 80, in page 133, line 22, leave out from first 'the' to 'that' in line 24 and insert 'permitted period'.

No. 81, in page 133, line 41, leave out lines 41 to 44 and insert— `(6) In this paragraph—

  1. (a) references to a relevant local newspaper shall be construed in accordance with paragraph 8(7), and
    2. 856
  2. (b) "the permitted period" has the meaning given by paragraph 7(5) and (6).'.

No. 82, in page 133, line 52, leave out `9(2)' and insert `9(1), (2)'.

No. 83, in page 134, line 21, leave out '9(2)' and insert `9(1), (2)'.

No. 84, in page 134, line 24, leave out '9(2)' and insert `9(1), (2)'.

No. 85, in page 135, line 3, leave out '9(2)' and insert `9(1), (2)'.

No. 158, in page 135, line 5, at end insert—