§ 3.5 p.m.
§ LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDALMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps are being taken to stop unauthorised broadcasting stations from operating in international waters, off the coasts of the United Kingdom.]
§ LORD HOBSONMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government are trying to reach agreement with other European countries on measures to put an end to this practice.
§ LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDALMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask whether he could tell the House what steps other 532 countries have taken to stop unauthorised broadcasting in waters just outside their own territorial waters? Have such actions been successful; and, if so, could the noble Lord tell us why Her Majesty's Government have not taken similar action?
§ LORD HOBSONMy Lords, in answer to the first part of the question, I am informed that the Dutch have taken action. With regard to the latter part of the question, we consider that it is far better that this matter should be dealt with by international agreement, because you do not solve the problem by one nation taking unilateral action. You still get the interference.
§ LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDALWhite thanking (he no6te Lord for that further reply, may I ask whether, if all nations took individual action quickly, the trouble would not then cease? And could that not be done at the same time as international discussion is taking place?
§ LORD HOBSONMy Lords, the answer to the first part of the question, which is hypothetical, would be, "Yes." The answer to the second part of the noble Lord's question is that at this very moment—that is to say, between December 16 and December 19—the Council of European Deputy Ministers are considering this very problem, and we hope that unanimity will be reached.