World Administrative Radio Conference

HC Deb 27 July 1977 vol 936 cc315-6W

Mr. Rathbone

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the state of preparation which the Government have reached for the World Administrative Radio Conference in 1979, particularly with regard to the establishment of a VHF citizen band in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

The consultations with United Kingdom users and manufacturers mentioned in my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) on 26th January are continuing; and the results of the wider programme of consultations which I announced then are now being studied. Preliminary discussions have been held with other countries directly and the International Telecommunication Union. These discussions will continue as a necessary prelude to the preparation of United Kingdom proposals to the conference to be submitted in spring 1979. A citizen's band is a national matter and not the concern of this international conference.