§ Mr. Harveyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has concluded his review of the operation of the fourth television channel in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdOn 23 August, we announced the establishment of this review and that I would be consulting the broadcasting organisations most directly concerned with the operation of the channel. I also indicated that I would be glad to receive the views of any other groups or individuals in Wales.
During the past three months we have received letters and submissions from 83 individuals and from 56 organisations in Wales. Of these, 110 favoured the continuation of the present arrangements and 29 expressed some degree of dissatisfaction with them. All the broadcasting organisations who submitted evidence 797W favoured the present arrangements. Many organisations argued that the fourth channel in Wales had brought tangible benefits to Wales in terms of employment, cultural enrichment, the expansion of an independent production industry, and in strengthening the base of the Welsh language.
I have therefore concluded from the evidence of these submissions and the advice of the broadcasters that there is no widespread desire for change and that the continuation of the present arrangements for the channel is in the best interests of Wales and the Welsh language.