§ Mr. David Stoddartasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future development of cable television.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThere are five cable television experiments in operation, under a special licence valid till 31st July 1976, at Bristol, Greenwich, Sheffield, Swindon and Wellingborough, where locally-originated programmes are distributed on the local cable networks. The Government have decided that the licences should continue until 1979 on the basis that they will provide valuable evidence which the Committee on the Future of Broadcasting can take into account in making recommendations with regard to cable television as a whole.
§ Mr. Robert Cookeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now fulfil his undertaking to make a statement on the future of cable television and local radio before the Summer Recess.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I have given today to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Bradford, West (Mr. Lyons), and Swindon (Mr. Stoddart).