§ Mr. Evennettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether persons who have been convicted of broadcasting offences will be eligible to hold licences to operate community radio stations;
6W(2) whether the broadcasting standards imposed upon independent local radio by the Independent Broadcasting Authority will be extended to the proposed community radio stations;
(3) what consultations he intends to hold on the subject of community radio;
(4) at what time he intends to introduce legislation to allow the establishment of community radio; and if he will make a statement;
(5) what recent representations he has received on the subject of community radio; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdSince 1 January 1984 the Home Office has received about 80 letters on the subject of community radio. We should be able to consider the possible development of community radio after the VHF Band II Planning Conference to be held in Geneva at the end of the year. Broadcasting standards, the question of who should be eligible to hold community radio licences, and the scope of consultation will be three of the many issues which will then have to be considered. It is too soon to think of legislation, since no decision has yet been taken to authorise any development of community radio, and it is not yet clear what frequencies might become available for such possible use.