§ Mr. Barronasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has had from the Radio Society of Great Britain in relation to the introduction of a novice amateur radio licence.
§ Mr. Butcher[pursuant to the reply, 30 January 1985, c. 218]: The Radio Society of Great Britain, which represents the interest of United Kingdom radio amateurs, has put forward proposals for a provisional or novice licence in the past, but it has not done so in recent times because, I understand, doubts have been expressed as to whether a novice facility is in the best interests of amateur radio. My Department requires radio amateurs to achieve a minimum standard of proficiency and there are fears that introducing a lower standard for novices would cause interference to other services. Officials in the radio regulatory division of my Department have regular meetings with the society, and although no formal proposals have been put forward recently on this subject, it remains under discussion.