§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many citizens band radio enthusiasts have been prosecuted under Customs and Excise Statutory Instrument 61 of 1978; and how many sets have been confiscated in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. Peter ReesI assume the hon. Member is referring to S.I. 1968: 61—the Radiotelephonic Transmitters (Control of Manufacture and Importation) Order 1968.
There were no prosecutions in 1977 or 1978. In 1979 there were in all 58 prosecutions for breaches of the import prohibition in SI 1968: 61, but no breakdown is available as between prosecutions of radio operators and of persons importing sets for sale.
The numbers of prohibited citizens band radio sets seized by Customs were as follows:
1977 184 1978 508 1979 1,142 (up to 30 June—later figures not yet available)