§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether investment in Channel 5, prior to its establishment, will be borne by ITV and Channel 4.
§ Mr. RentonWe have no proposals to invite existing contractors to invest in Channel 5.
§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on how much the Independent Broadcasting Authority spent on Channel 5.
§ Mr. RentonThe IBA has been involved in a study of the operational and engineering aspects of the proposed Channel 5 but I understand that their costs have not been separately identified.
§ Mr. Mark FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of any disruption to ITV and Channel 4 services which will be caused by the installation of Channel 5 transmitter equipment.
§ Mr. RentonDetailed arrangement have not yet been made for the introduction of Channel 5 transmission. Experience suggests that, though short-term interruptions to night time services might be necessary there need be no interruption to services during the day and evening.
§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish a table identifying which transmitter sites need additional equipment before transmitting Channel 5.
§ Mr. RentonThe precise coverage of a Channel 5 service has not yet been decided.