§ Mr. Gorstasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the pirate radio stations that are, or have been, broadcasting within the United Kingdom during the past two months; in what approximate areas and for how long each of these pirate stations has been operating; and what action has been or will be taken to ensure that such transmissions cease forthwith.
§ Mr. ButcherIn February and March this year the following stations were heard transmitting in the broadcasting bands from the locations given:
Radio Station Approximate Area Alice's Restaurant North London Amanda Radio North London Arabia Radio North London Country Radio West Midlands DBC West London Eleanor Radio Merseyside Floss Radio London Horizon Radio South-East London Imagine Radio Essex JFM South London KFM Greater Manchester London Greek Radio North London London Weekend Radio South-East London Radio Caroline a vessel in the North Sea Radio Jackie South-West London Radio Laser a vessel in the North Sea SCR Merseyside Skyline Radio South London Sounds Alternative Birmingham South East Sound East London Sunshine Radio Ludlow, Shropshire West London Radio Hayes, Middlesex In addition the following stations were heard in frequency bands not allocated for broadcasting: Apollo Radio Midlands Atlanta Radio Kent Britain Radio International East Anglia Contact Radio Essex East Coast Commercial Radio Norfolk Enoch Radio North-East Freedom Radio Edinburgh Gemini Radio Hertfordshire Krypton Radio London Radio Caroline East East Anglia Radio Linda Scotland Spectrum World Broadcasting Surrey Stella Radio International Edinburgh Weekend Free Radio Scotland Radio Caroline has been transmitting since August 1983 and Radio Laser started test transmissions in January 1984; otherwise no information is available on the length of time each station has been operating.
Transmissions are being traced wherever possible, evidence gathered with a view to prosecution and prosecutions are under consideration or pending in a number of cases. Officials had a meeting recently with representatives of the broadcasting organisations at which additional action that might be taken to make an impact on the problem was identified. Consideration is to be given to the question of seeking injunctions against offenders and action is planned to deter those advertising on pirate radio stations.
§ Mr. Gorstasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many prosecutions have been instituted for radio broadcasting piracy during February and March; and how many prosecutions are pending.
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§ Mr. ButcherDuring February and March, nine people were prosecuted. There are nine prosecutions pending.