§ Mr. Oakesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what progress is being made in the negotiations between the BBC and his Department about the allocation of space for local radio on VHF band 2; and when he expects these negotiations to be concluded;
(2) what proposals to improve the effectiveness of local radio he intends to submit to the February 1984 International Telecommunications Union;
(3) if he will withdraw his Department's proposed plan regarding allocation of frequencies on VHF band 2 in view of the fact that both the British Broadcasting Corporation and independent local radio have said that it is unacceptable.
§ Mr. HurdWe have fully consulted both the BBC and the IBA in the preparation of the United Kingdom's plan for the VHF band 2 planning conference to be held in Geneva at the end of 1984, and will continue to do so. The plan makes additional spectrum available for both BBC and independent local radio. As I said in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on 21 July, it is impossible to give each broadcasting authority all that it seeks without severe penalties to the other. Both authorities regard the existing plan as falling short of their ideals; but the IBA have accepted it as a fair and workable compromise. [Vol. 46, c.189–90.]