HC Deb 27 June 1988 vol 136 cc21-2W
Mr. Fisher

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much was spent on monitoring, identifying and prosecuting pirate radio operators in each of the last five years.

Mr. Butcher

The Radio Investigation Service became part of the Department only in August 1984. As a consequence, it is possible to provide detailed information only for the last three financial years. The following table lists the RIS's overall costs, and the estimated amount spent on enforcement activity against unlicensed broadcasters where figures are available.

Year Overall costs £ million Costs of Broadcasting Enforcement £ million est
1983–84 9.3 n/a
1984–85 8.6 n/a
1985–86 6.8 0–6
1986–87 6.6 0.6
1987–88 6.5 0.8

Mr. Fisher

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many pirate radio operators have been prosecuted in each of the last five years.

Mr. Butcher

The answer is as follows:

Prosecutions Convictions
1983 40 40
1984 48 47
1985 136 135
1986 79 74
1987 77 75