§ Ms. Clare Shortasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many raids have been undertaken in the past 12 months on radio stations broadcastings illegally; and what is the total value of the equipment confiscated.
§ Mr. ButcherDuring the past 12 months, my Department's radio investigation service has carried out 218 raids on 84 different unlicensed broadcasting stations. Equipment seized by the RIS is detained under its powers under section 79 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 and at the conclusion of a successful prosecution it is for the court of law to decide whether the equipment shall be forfeit. Much of the equipment is secondhand or home-built and it is therefore not possible to make a realistic estimate of its value
§ Ms. Clare Shortasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his best available estimate of the number of radio stations broadcasting without a licence in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. ButcherMy Department is aware of 34 unlicensed stations currently broadcasting. The great majority of them broadcast intermittently.