HL Deb 08 June 1981 vol 421 cc3-4

2.42 p.m.

Lord Morris

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

To ask Her Majesty's Government which frequencies they intend to allot to private mobile radio transmissions.

Lord Belstead

My Lords, the Home Secretary's Mobile Radio Committee is at present engaged in a review of the spectrum requirements of private land mobile radio services until the end of the century and the scope for meeting them, in the light of the outcome of the recent World Administrative Radio Conference. The allocation of additional spectrum to any service has to be considered against a wide variety of national and international factors, but the committee's report will be a vital contribution to this process.

Lord Morris

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that Answer, may I ask whether he is aware that, if the frequencies which are recommended in the draft report are taken up, they will be completely out of step with the rest of Europe? Is he, in addition, aware that the vast majority of users believe on technical and political grounds that if these frequency allocations are taken up, Her Majesty's Goverment will be making a rod for their own backs?

Lord Belstead

Well, my Lords, I am not aware of the point that my noble friend has mentioned, because I have not seen the draft report. We are talking about a committee which does valuable work and which is an advisory committee to my right honourable friend the Home Secretary. I think that we should wait to see what the committee has to say before I state on behalf of the Government any conclusions that we may reach.