Lord Winstanleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the present extent of radio piracy and whether they are satisfied that the resources of the Department of Trade and Industry's Radio Interference Service are adequate for the proper enforcement of the provisions of the Marine and Broadcasting Offences Act 1967.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Lucas of Chilworth):During 1986, 83 land-based unlicensed broadcasting stations are known to have broadcast, the great majority only intermittently. The Department of 1542WA Trade and Industry's Radio Investigation Service raided 70 of them on 209 occasions last year, and 74 people were subsequently prosecuted. I am satisfied that we have adequate resources to keep this problem under control.
Three stations broadcast from two ships anchored in international waters off the United Kingdom coast, supply and promotion of which are offences under the Marine Etc. Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967. The investigation of offences under this Act is a matter for the police, acting on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions. However, my department helps to collect evidence. With the resumption of broadcasts by Radio Laser, my department is considering allocating further resources to this purpose.