Independent Radio (Northern Ireland) (Hansard, 27 June 1985)

§ Mr. Brittan

An independent local radio station in Belfast began broadcasting in 1976. In 1979, following the second report of the Home Office local radio working party, my noble Friend the Viscount Whitelaw approved the location of a station in Londonderry, and the Independent Broadcasting Authority subsequently offered the Londonderry franchise to a local consortium. In the event, the consortium was unable to complete the preparatory arrangements within a reasonable time scale, and in 1984 the IBA felt compelled to withdraw the offer.

As outlined in the reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Page), on 28 March, at columns 284–85, the funds available to the IBA for extension of the local radio network are now severely constrained. Moreover, in the light of broadcasting and other developments in recent years, the IBA takes the view that few of the areas which were approved for independent local radio purposes but which remain unserved, such as Londonderry, would at present attract an advertising income sufficient, on their own, to sustain an independent local radio station. As a means of bringing a service to Londonderry, therefore, the 450W IBA has sought my approval to an initiative along the lines of that which I approved for four locations in Great Britain in my statement on 28 March. In Northern Ireland, this would involve extending the Belfast franchise area to include Londonderry, and advertising the extended areas as and when the contract for the existing Belfast franchise is due to expire. In addition, the contractor for the new area would be expected to provide the means, by way of advance payment, to enable the IBA to install transmitting equipment and allied facilities for the extended area. The extended area may include Omagh and Enniskillen, depending upon the potential contractor's assessment of the relationship between forward funding costs and population coverage.

I have carefully considered the IBA's request. I recognise that an ILR franchise extending to the greater part of Northern Ireland may not be thought to be wholly consistent with the concept of local radio. Nevertheless, I accept that, as with the corresponding initiative in four areas in Great Britain, mentioned in my earlier statement, localities at present unserved are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future unless a new approach is adopted. I have also taken note that, as in Great Britain, the IBA will seek to acquire relevant programming for and representation from the new area. I have therefore decided to approve the IBA's proposals in principle, subject to the outcome of local consultation in accordance with section 19(3) of the Broadcasting Act 1981. The IBA and I attach particular importance to this consultation process. If, in the light of it, the proposed extension of the existing franchise area is generally unacceptable locally, the revised arrangements will not take place, and the IBA will seek to re-let the existing franchise area only. If, however, the proposals are found to be generally acceptable, the extension of the franchise area will not preclude the setting up of separate ILR stations in Northern Ireland in the future if circumstances permit.