§ Lord Jenkin of Roding asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether they will arrange for a single, low-powered, FM radio frequency to be allocated for use by all hospital radio stations in the United Kingdom, so enabling many more staff and patients to receive local hospital radio programmes.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Baroness Denton of Wakefield)My Lords, the provision of an FM frequency for hospital radio is a matter for the members of the Radio Authority to consider as part of their duties under the Broadcasting Act 1990.
§ Lord Jenkin of RoilingMy Lords, I was aware of that, but is my noble friend aware, for her part, that broadcasting to hospital patients and staff by low-powered radio would give a very much higher quality of reception to many more patients and staff in our hospitals, and would be much better than the existing wire-linked services? Further, after the very successful experiment with hospital radio—free broadcasting radio—at the East Surrey Hospital, why is the Radio Authority so reluctant to follow up that by allocating what is sometimes referred to as a "sub-band" of FM frequencies to hospital radio stations?
§ Baroness Denton of WakefieldMy Lords, I was sure that my noble friend Lord Jenkin was aware of what I said in my Answer, but I was endeavouring to share those facts with other Members of your Lordships' House. The Radio Authority has to make difficult choices about which services should use the frequencies available to it. I am sure that, after that experiment, great care is being taken in making the next move. I am sure that my noble friend would not wish for too hasty an action.
§ Lord Clinton-DavisMy Lords, does the Minister agree that that form of broadcasting is highly desirable, but that it would involve the upgrading of equipment if a decision were to be made in favour of it? Can the Minister say whether, in principle, the Government would support, or offer some help for, the upgrading of the equipment which would obviously be necessary if a favourable decision were to be taken?
§ Baroness Denton of Wakefield; My Lords, I am sure that the noble Lord, Lord Clinton-Davis, knows that that decision is a matter for my noble friend at the 412 Department of Health; and I do not believe that I need to point out the demands on that department's resources.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleMy Lords, what conversations are the Government—or any government department—having with the Radio Authority to promote this very desirable objective?
§ Baroness Denton of WakefieldMy Lords, I am pleased to tell my noble friend Lord Skelmersdale that my honourable friend the Minister for Trade and Technology invited national representatives of hospital radio and the Radio Authority to a meeting last week to help him to clarify the current situation. I should, however, stress, that the decision is for the Radio Authority.
Lord Bruce of DoningtonMy Lords, could arrangements be made at the Department of Health to enable it to receive "mayday" calls from hospitals that have run out of funds?
§ Baroness Denton of WakefieldMy Lords, I am sure that the noble Lord, Lord Bruce, would not expect me to take that question very seriously.