§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applications his Department has received for licences to operate community radio stations; if he will break down this figure by region; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many representations he has received about the licensing of community radio since the answer of 6 June to the hon. Member for Stockport (Mr. Favell) Official Report, column 215; how many of these have related to the timing of his decisions on the developments of community radio; and if he is yet in a position to indicate precisely when these decisions will be announced.
§ Mr. Giles ShawApplications for community radio licences have not yet been invited, although interested groups have on occasion forwarded details of their programming and other plans. Since 6 June, we have received about 90 letters and telephone calls about community radio; a small number of these inquired about the timing of a further statement on the development of community radio. In this latter connection, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Mr. Wheeler) on 11 July.