Broadcasting (Hansard, 25 April 1995)

§ Mr. Gordon Prentice
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of removing responsibility for transmission from the BBC. [20004]

§ Mr. Dorrell
I am currently considering the options for the future ownership of the BBC's transmission service.

§ Mr. Gordon Prentice
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate he has made of the number of people in the United Kingdom who can pick up satellite television but who are unable to receive terrestrial television. [20003]

§ Mr. Dorrell
None.

§ Mr. Pendry
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to reassess the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1990 with regard to the protection of universal television coverage of sporting events in the United Kingdom in respect of News Corporation's bid for the rights to television coverage of rugby football league. [20247]

§ Mr. Dorrell
None. With the Broadcasting Act 1990, the Government decided that it was right to liberalise the market for the benefit of rights holders, who should not without good reason find themselves prohibited from disposing of their rights in the way they choose. This remains the Government's position.