§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the advertisement for his Department and its services on the pirate Skyline radio at 7.28 pm on Monday 13 May was solicited or paid for by his Department; what steps he is taking to stop or encourage further broadcasts of this type; and whether he 97W will make a statement on the broadcasting of his Department's public service announcements on pirate radios.
§ Mr. WhitneyWe were unaware of the advertisement broadcast on the unlicensed broadcasting station Skyline Radio on Monday 13 May. Certainly neither this Department nor the Central Office of Information, which originates and distributes public service announcements on behalf of Government Departments for free broadcast, would consider paying for or soliciting advertising on any unlicensed broadcasting station.
As the hon. Member knows, action on the unlicensed use of radio is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.