§ 3.28 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to check the increasing use of transistor radio sets in public places.]
THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (EARL JELLICOE)My Lords, many county councils and borough councils have exercised their power under Section 249 of the Local Government Act, 1933, to make a by-law to deal with the nuisance caused by the use of these sets in public places. The 543 by-law comes into operation when confirmed by the Home Secretary. The Home Office recently revised their model by-law on the subject to take account of the increasing use of transistor radios and to make the by-law more readily enforceable. When a by-law is in force it is an offence, punishable on summary conviction with a maximum fine of £5, to operate a wireless set in a public place in such a way as to give reasonable cause for annoyance to other people. The Committee set up by my noble friend the Minister for Science on the Problem of Noise will no doubt consider whether there is need to supplement these powers.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, before thanking the noble Earl for his reply, may I be allowed to congratulate him on emerging with such distinction from the recent exercise of "musical bumps"? I thank him very much for his reply; but does he not consider, in view of the practice of numbers of these sets being turned on in public places, with people being forced unwillingy to listen to possibly two or three different stations at the same time, that possibly some more stringent measures than bylaws are necessary?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his first observation. As regards his second observation, I would point out that the revised model by-laws were issued only in November, 1961; that is to say, six months ago. I am therefore inclined to suggest to my noble friend that there might be something to be said for waiting to see how satisfactory action under these by-laws proves, at least for the time being.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, may I say that I should like to join the noble Earl in saying to the Minister how gratified we feel, in all parts of the House, at what is clearly a promotion, and that we wish him very great good fortune in his Minister of State appointment at the Home Office.