§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to his written answer of 15 December to the hon. Member for Southend, East,Official Report, column 705, if he will list those Community rules which prevent Her Majesty's Government from discriminating between United Kingdom and other European Economic Community television companies;
(2) pursuant to his written answer of 15 December to the hon. Member for Southend, East, Official Report, column 705, why Her Majesty's Government do not consider it desirable for non-European Economic Community companies to be eligible to have the control of television channels in the United Kingdom;
(3) pursuant to his written answer of 15 December to the hon. Member for Southend, East, Official Report, column 705, what information he has as to how many television channels or stations in other member states of the European Economic Community are controlled by United Kingdom companies.
§ Mr. RentonA restriction on control of United Kingdom television companies by other EC companies would conflict with obligations under the treaty of Rome such as those relating to freedom to provide services (articles 59-66) and to participate in the capital of companies (article 221). Subject to this, the Government consider that foreign control of services using United Kingdom broadcasting frequencies should be prevented because of the power and cultural influence of those services. Information on shareholdings by United Kingdom companies in television channels in other EC countries is not held centrally.