§ Mr. Wilkinsonasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what 74W further work on independent local radio he is carrying out in order to prepare in detail the plans contained in the Government's White Paper of March, 1971, Command Paper No. 4636.
§ Mr. ChatawayThe main responsibility for organising the new service will of course be undertaken by the Independent Broadcasting Authority if and when Parliament enacts legislation to give effect to the proposals in the White Paper.
In the meantime, I am proposing to recruit temporarily a small additional staff to advise me on technical and general questions. This staff will work alongside the Independent Television Authority and may eventually, when the legislation is passed, transfer to the I.B.A. to form the nucleus of its independent radio organisation. Parliamentary approval for expenditure of up to £80,000 on this work is being sought in a Supplementary Estimate.