HL Deb 24 November 1970 vol 313 cc6-7

2.45 p.m.

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, especially in view of their decision relating to the Annan Committee of Inquiry, whether they will soon be making a policy statement about broadcasting and television.]

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, as my right honourable friend the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications announced on July 23, he is inviting his Television Advisory Committee to undertake a study designed to identify the main technical questions of relevance to broadcasting. This will provide the basis for a more informed public discussion of the issues. He will then consider whether an inquiry into the structure of broadcasting after 1976 is desirable and, if so, what form it should take. The Government hope to issue a White Paper early in the New Year setting out their proposals for commercial sound radio.

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. May we remind him that time marches on; and may we ask whether he is aware that there is a good deal of uncertainty about this matter? In the meantime, can he reassure us, in reference to commercial local radio, that there will be complete equality in the allocation of wavelengths between the B.B.C. and local commercial radio?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, my right honourable friend is very well aware of the urgency of these matters. I am afraid that I cannot commit him on the rather wider point referred to in the second part of the noble Baroness's supplementary question.

LORD SLATER

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that we are very grateful that the new Minister of Posts and Telecommunications is standing by the decision arrived at by the previous Postmaster General regarding the year 1976? Will he give serious consideration to whether commercial radio should in fact be brought into operation?—because the greater part of those people in the other place are against it.

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, I think that there is a certain difference of opinion between the two sides on that point in both Houses.

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

My Lords, may I refer again to the noble Lord's prognostication for January and ask whether he is aware that there will be even more anxiety created by his reply? May I ask whether it is possible that the Government are running into difficulties over commercial local radio, because of needle-time and difficulties of that kind; and is he aware that we are very urgently awaiting his reply?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, does the noble Baroness mean a reply on the subject of local radio?

BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOE

Yes, my Lords.

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, I will certainly bring that point to the attention of my right honourable friend.