§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are employed by British Telecom, York, investigating complaints of television and radio interference by citizens band radio.
§ Mr. MellorFour.
186W
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the length of time taken to investigate complaints by members of the public of interference on television and radio caused by citizens band radio in the York office of British Telecom.
§ Mr. MellorIt varies with the complexity of the case. In most of the area covered by the York office complainants are visited normally within two weeks of lodging a complaint, although in Hull, because of the large number of cases arising there, it may be up to five months before a visit can be made.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been received of citizens band radio interference by British Telecom, York; how many have been investigated; and with what results.
§ Mr. MellorSince April 1981, over 2,340 complaints of interference to broadcast reception from all sources have been lodged with the York office. Of these, 90 per cent. are estimated to be due to CB radio. All complaints are investigated and 2,260 cases of interference have been cleared in the same period.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been made to the York office of British Telecom for the city of Hull concerning citizens band radio interference with television and radio reception; how many have been investigated; how long the investigations took; and with what results.
§ Mr. MellorSince April 1981, some 1,230 complaints of interference to broadcast reception in the Hull area have been lodged with British Telecom, York. All complaints are investigated and some 1,070 cases have been cleared in that period. The time taken to complete an investigation varies with the complexity of the case.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether British Telecom has indicated whether it will continue to provide a service to the Home Department for seeking out illegal operators of citizens band radio; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorBritish Telecom has raised with my right hon. Friend the question of the future of the radio interference service in the light of the changes in BT proposed in the Telecommunications Bill now before the House. We are not at present in a position to make a statement.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been charged with the offence of operating illegal citizens band radio over the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available; and if he is satisfied with the progress made in detecting such breaches of the law.
§ Mr. MellorSome 2,300 prosecutions were undertaken during the 12 months up to 30 September 1982. Powers to help officers investigating the illicit use of radio to carry out their duties more effectively are being sought in part V of the Telecommunications Bill now before the House.