§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he will employ when granting franchises to community radio stations in Wales so as to ensure that the linguistic balance which will be offered by these stations is satisfactory.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe central criterion for the community radio experiment is that the new stations should enhance existing broadcasting arrangements and broaden the diversity of consumer choice by offering the community in question a service which is distinct in character. In deciding on the allocation of experimental licences in Wales as elsewhere we shall apply this criterion, taking into account the extent to which the service proposed reflects the characteristics and needs of the area concerned.