§ Mr. Neil Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister how many individuals are employed by the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee structure responsible for broadcasting matters.
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to my reply of 14 November 1984, at column243, to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell).
§ Mr. Neil Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister what is the estimated number in all Government Departments of employees concerned with the licensing and regulation of broadcasting.
§ The Prime MinisterThe broadcasting department of the Home Office, which advises the Home Secretary on all matters relating to domestic broadcasting policy, currently consists of 22 full-time staff. The radio regulatory division of the Department of Trade and Industry is responsible for both the domestic and international planning and management of the radio frequency spectrum. Currently 12 staff are employed full time on technical and engineering work relating solely to broadcasting, and a number of other staff are concerned with broadcasting services as part of their wide responsibilities for the frequency spectrum. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office employs eight staff who work on matters connected with the BBC's external services. This figure does not include the substantial number of FCO administration and engineering staff in this country and abroad who are involved in the operation of FCO-controlled transmitting stations which carry BBC broadcasts.