HL Deb 27 November 1984 vol 457 cc888-9WA
Baroness Stedman

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to use Section 14(7) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967 against so-called "radio pirates".

Lord Lucas of Chilworth

Her Majesty's Government will consider using the provisions of Section 14(7) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 should a suitable case arise.

Baroness Stedman

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many so-called "pirate radio stations" have been closed down, how many came back on air, and after how long.

Lord Lucas of Chilworth

Since 16th July this year, when the powers under the Telecommunications Act 1949 to seize and detain equipment for the purposes of legal proceedings came into force, the Radio Investigation Service of the Department of Trade and Industry have seized equipment on over 50 occasions from 35 different unlicensed broadcasting stations. Nine of these stations are known to have begun broadcasting again. No record is kept of the lengths of time between stations having equipment seized and coming back on the air.