§ Mr. Pendryasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give an estimate of the date by which he expects to have eliminated pirate radio broadcasting within the United Kingdom either as a result of steps currently being taken to enforce the law, or as a result of additional new measures to be introduced; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ButcherI cannot estimate when unlicensed broadcasting will be eliminated since the individual broadcaster, not I, takes the decision on whether to broadcast. What I can ensure is that breaking the law in this way is subject to rapid enforcement action and financially is never worthwhile. Since the start of 1985 the Department's radio investigation service has taken action on 76 occasions against 42 unlicensed broadcasting stations. In the same period, 48 people have been prosecuted and convicted for their involvement in the operation of unlicensed stations.