§ Viscount Hanworth asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether the relative allocations by the Independent Broadcasting Authority of broadcasting time to Greek and Turkish language programmes are in accordance with the responsibilities of the authority, especially in view of the current political situation in Cyprus.
§ Viscount UllswaterMy Lords, the Independent Broadcasting Authority has a duty to ensure that programmes from each station meet the needs of the local population.
The arrangements for Haringey are that the frequency for the area is shared by two ethnic community radio stations, London Greek Radio and WNK, an Afro-Caribbean station. It was originally intended that London Greek Radio should provide two hours of programming in the Turkish language to meet the needs of the smaller Turkish Cypriot community in the area. I understand the IBA has now decided that London Greek Radio will not broadcast programmes in the Turkish language and that the responsibility for broadcasting such programmes will now rest with WNK.
§ Viscount HanworthMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply, which meets a great many of our worries. However, is it not a fact that some time ago the Government realised the importance and desirability of giving ethnic broadcasts but they also recognised the difficulties of doing so? They had to ensure that anyone who was responsible for a programme was financially viable and that such programmes were not taken over by an undesirable group providing the finance; for example, communists. The Government also had to ensure that a large number of problems which have occurred in this area, such as political problems, did not arise. Does the Minister agree that perhaps the IBA has not been over-clever in its original proposals?
§ Viscount UllswaterMy Lords, the noble Viscount is right. This is a matter for the IBA. That body has regard to the proposals for a suitable service to increase local listener choice on a self-financing and technically sound basis.
§ Baroness BirkMy Lords, following the decision that I believe was arrived at last week, have there been any representations by the Turkish community, especially as the broadcasting time of that 338 community has been cut by half? Further, does the Minister agree that these events highlight the importance of making frequency space available to the many aspirant broadcasters, especially among ethnic groups in urban areas? Will he say whether there is a possibility of unused frequencies on the BBC sub-bands being made available for this purpose?
§ Viscount UllswaterMy Lords, it was an IBA decision after representations from and negotiations with the Turkish community. The proposed new radio authority will be expected to invite proposals for a large number of new stations across the country, some of which will serve ethnic communities. Account will be taken of audience demand and the availability of frequencies.
§ Viscount HanworthMy Lords, I believe I am right in saying that for five years the Greeks have had a pirate station. I believe that station has been conducted fairly well. Why have the Government done precisely nothing to stop that?
§ Viscount UllswaterMy Lords, I am not sure that the noble Viscount is correct. I believe that prosecutions have been made in that case.