HC Deb 18 June 1979 vol 968 cc375-6W
Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to grant the television franchise for the North-West to Granada Television or whether he is prepared to consider giving an additional franchise to Merseyside and North Wales for a separate television service for that region.

Mr. Brittan

The determination of the independent television franchise areas and the allocation of franchises to programme contractors are, under section 2 of the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act 1973, the responsibility of the Independent Broadcasting Authority. The Government have no intention of interfering with this principle in their forthcoming broadcasting legislation.