§ Mr. Parrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he now contemplates a regional role for independent radio in Derby, Nottingham and Leicester; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe Government remain committed to the principle of independent local radio. When Centre Radio in Leicester ceased broadcasting in October 1983, the successful applicant for the re-advertised contract was Leicester Sound, in which Radio Trent in Nottingham has a majority shareholding. The two stations share some programming, but Leicester Sound broadcasts its own local programmes for nine and a half hours each weekday.
As far as Derby is concerned, the reasons for approving in principle the extension of the Nottingham franchise area 387W were set out in the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Page) on 28 March, at columns 284–85. My right hon. and learned Friend emphasised, however, that progress would depend on the outcome of local consultation, and that the proposed arrangements would not preclude the setting up of a separate ILR station for Derby in future if circumstances permit.