Radio Broadcasting Licences

HC Deb 08 November 2000 vol 356 c255W

Mr. Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to enable religious organisations to hold national radio broadcasting licences. [137003]

Janet Anderson

I have been asked to reply.

Religious organisations are currently disqualified by provision of Paragraph 2 (1) of Part II of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Act 1990 from holding national radio licences. We will publish a White Paper later this year setting out the Government's proposals for reform of broadcasting and telecommunications regulation to ensure a framework is in place which recognises the developments in those industries. The ownership of radio licences for religious broadcasting is one of the issues being considered in that context.