§ Mr. Matesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has given further consideration to the development of community radio; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitelawAs the third report of the local radio working party recognised, the development of community radio raises a number of difficult problems for broadcasting policy. Moreover it would make substantial demands on resources in terms both of creating and operating a regulatory system and of identifying the limited amount of spectrum which might be made available in the short term. Given the resource demands of other developments in the broadcasting field, and since the spectrum available in the longer term is not yet known, I have concluded that it would not be right to take matters futher at present. However, in the preparation of the United Kingdom proposals for the VHF band II broadcasting planning conference next year, account will be taken of the possible needs of community radio with the aim of reducing the spectrum constraints which could otherwise apply in the future; and further consideration will be given to the possible development of community radio when the outcome of the conference is known.