§ Mr. F. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations have been made to him or to the Governor of Cyprus regarding the introduction of commercial broadcasting in Cyprus; and what action it is proposed to take.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Governor has received representations from the Cypriot Newspapers against commercial broadcasting. He has met their delegation and invited them to consider the question of commercial broadcasting against the wider background of the future of broadcasting services in the island. Their representations will be considered by the Joint Council composed of the Executive Council and the Transitional Committee.
The Bill establishing the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation was published on 24th July last year, giving the Corporation power to accept commercial advertising. The law was enacted on 13th October and came into force on 1st January this year. Commercial broadcasting started on 26th April, prior announcements having been made that it would do so in the first half of 1959. No adverse comment and no criticism was made when the Bill was published last year, nor when the law was enacted.