HL Deb 06 December 1988 vol 502 cc479-80

2.52 p.m.

Lord Orr-Ewing asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to bring forward legislation in the current session concerning broadcasting.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)

No, my Lords. But we intend to bring forward major broadcasting legislation in the course of this Parliament.

Lord Orr-Ewing

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that many people thought that legislation was going to come in this Session? However, the delay has some advantage in that viewers will have an opportunity of seeing whether or not satellite television is worthwhile. But the delay has a more serious effect on the many small companies which had gathered money and talent in hoping to have a community licence. Can anything be done to allow some of those community licences to be granted and to avoid having to wait until next year for legislation?

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, my noble friend says that there are many people who thought that legislation would be introduced in this Parliament. I would say to him that that is one of the dangers inherent in any form of speculation. With regard to his second point, my right honourable friend announced on 2nd November the approval of the IBA scheme for 20 community radio stations. So something is being achieved in this area at the moment, but it will be better when there is legislation.

Baroness Birk

My Lords, I hope the Minister can help me and explain why the Government changed their mind about bringing forward a separate radio Bill during this Parliament, but not of course this Session. Is not the Minister aware that the White Paper is swamped by television, and that only two pages out of 45 are devoted to radio? Something like 30 million people a day get great pleasure out of listening to the radio. Should not the Government think again about separating the radio issue? All the concentration, discussion and criticism have fastened on television with very little mention of radio.

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, that question is an interesting one. Had she listened, as I am sure she does, to the words of wisdom of the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition, she would have heard that he thought there was already too much legislation this Session. It is for that reason that it was decided that the chances are when legislation is produced, if it is produced—I shall not say whether it will be produced, or when—it might include the subjects in which the noble Baroness is interested.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, if my words were words of wisdom, why do the Government not observe them?

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, it was the noble Baroness who I thought should absorb the words of wisdom of her noble friend.

Baroness Birk

My Lords, in case the Minister has misunderstood my question, perhaps I should say that I had in mind in the end two smaller Bills rather than one very large Bill. The same amount of legislation would be involved.

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, if the noble Baroness has ever tried putting water through two two-inch pipes or one four-inch pipe, she will know that the one four-inch pipe contains more water.