§ Viscount Dilhorneasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will publish the Green Paper on radio.
The Minister of State, Home Office (The Earl of Caithness)My right honourable friend has 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 317WA preferences. We are not proposing to proceed with the recommendation of the Peacock Committee that BBC Radios 1 and 2 should be privatised. We 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.