HC Deb 30 November 1984 vol 68 c615W
Sir Patrick Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects British citizens band owners to be able to use a common European frequency.

Mr. Trippier

The Government have stated then-intention of adopting in due course the recommendation of the Conference of European Posts and Telecommunications which provides for common European frequencies for FM CB. There is a need to clear the recommended band of its existing users and the Department is consulting manufacturing, trading and user interests. These consultations are likely to take some time but when they are completed I shall be in a position to announce when the CEPT frequencies will become available for CB in this country.

Sir Patrick Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the number of citizens band licences that have now been issued.

Mr. Trippier

About 570,000 new CB licences have been issued since the launch of the service in November 1981, and of these some 200,000 were valid at the end of October 1984.