§ Mr. Galeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about improvements in reception of independent local radio.
§ Mr. HurdI have informed the Independent Broadcasting Authority that the Government will consider sympathetically proposals to improve reception on MF or VHF/FM in particular localities within existing independent radio coverage areas. Approval of power increases or the construction of additional transmitters will be subject to national and international clearance by the Department of Trade and Industry for frequency planning purposes.
§ Mr. Galeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the Green Paper on radio.
§ Mr. HurdI have today presented to Parliament a Green Paper setting out the choices and opportunities which the Government see for the development of radio services in the United Kingdom. The options discussed in the Green Paper are in tune with the Government's general approach of encouraging the stimulus of competition, the broadening of consumer choice and the lightening of regulatory burdens while at the same time preserving standards. The Green Paper envisages the possible development of new national commercial services and of community stations to take their place side by side with existing independent local radio stations, all with more freedom to meet their audiences' tastes and preferences.
We are not proposing to proceed with the recommendations of the Peacock committee that BBC Radios 1 and 2 should be privatised.
I very much hope that the Green Paper will stimulate a lively debate and that ordinary listeners in all parts of the country will respond to our request for views and comments.