HC Deb 12 December 1988 vol 143 c463W
Mr. Fisher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will apply the same regulatory standards to satellite and cable programmes, receivable in the United Kingdom, as presently apply to the pre-recorded video cassette industry under the Video Recordings Act 1984.

Mr. Renton

In our White Paper "Broadcasting in the '90s': Competition, Choice and Quality" (November 1988, Cm. 517) we propose that all United Kingdom satellite, cable and microwave services should be subject to the strict consumer protection requirements set out in paragraph 6.10. These are not directly comparable with the requirements for the pre-recorded video cassette industry, because viewers obtain access to broadcast services and pre-recorded video cassettes under different circumstances. Our proposals for deterring unacceptable foreign satellite services receivable in the United Kingdom are set out in paragraphs 7.13 and 7.14 of the White Paper. Copies of the White Paper were placed in the Library.