HL Deb 08 May 1967 vol 282 cc1184-5

2.38 p.m.

LORD STRANGE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider implementing their promise of increased power for the legal Manx Radio Station, and taking up half of the shares of the company running that station, thereby reaping a reward from foreign advertising and contributing to the solution of the pirate radio problem.]

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, the noble Lord is, I fear, entirely under a misapprehension in his belief that Her Majesty's Government have made any promise to authorise an increase in the power at which Radio Manx broadcasts so as to make it possible for the broadcasts to be receivable, on any regular and acceptable footing, in the United Kingdom or in Continental Europe. On the contrary, when in March, 1963, the then Conservative Government of the day agreed that the Isle of Man should have its own service of sound radio, they did so on the express understanding that the service would be confined to the Island. As this Government's policy is not to authorise any commercial service of sound radio to serve the United Kingdom they are continuing the policy of the previous Government in respect of the power at which Radio Manx is authorised to transmit.

LORD STRANGE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply. I am afraid I am rather hard of hearing, especially when I do not want to hear anything. If I understood the noble Lord correctly, he was in a way shutting the door. But I did not hear the door slam, nor did I hear a key turn in the lock. I should like to ask the noble Lord whether he does not agree that the time has come to implement the promise made by the British Government or their representatives to the Isle of Man in 1959, that if a radio station were put up it would have increased power? I trust that the noble Lord will think this matter over, and not lock the door, but leave it ajar, and will remember that these young People—

SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS: Question!

LORD STRANGE

I will put it in the form of a question. Will he remember that they are frustrated and need some form of legal "pop" radio.

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, a good many people feel frustrated in many senses and for various reasons. I am sure the noble Lord feels frustrated because he cannot hear me. I am sorry about that, and I will speak louder. In any case, if he peruses my replies in Hansard to-morrow he will discern whether I slammed the door, turned the key or took any measure to see that it is firmly secured. Apart from that, may I say that whatever may have happened in 1959 was surely abrogated by what happened some four years later. All I can say is that what occurred on that occasion was by agreement between the Manx Government and the British Government, and that agreement still stands.

LORD STRANGE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord. I cannot put further questions without making a speech.