Cable Television (Hansard, 8 March 1990)

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cable television systems are operating at present in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Mellor
I understand from the Cable Authority that 15 broadband cable systems are operational. In addition, I understand there are 58 licensed upgrade systems and 153 licensed satellite master antenna television (SMATV) systems operational.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by district, the companies that have applied for cable television franchise in South Yorkshire.

§ Mr. Mellor
I understand from the Cable Authority that three franchises have been advertised in South Yorkshire covering Rotherham and Doncaster; Sheffield and Barnsley. The following seven companies applied for the Rotherham and Doncaster franchise: 813W
(i) Britannia Cable Systems South Yorkshire;

(ii) Cable Communications (Rotherham and Doncaster) Ltd.;

(iii) Comment Cable Vision South Yorkshire Ltd.;

(iv) Doncaster Telecommunications Complex Ltd. and Rotherham Telecommunications Complex Ltd.;

(v) Don River Cable Teleplus Ltd.;

(vi) South Yorkshire Cablevision Ltd.; and

(vii) South Yorkshire Cablevision (UK) Ltd.
The Cable Authority hopes to award the franchise in mid-May.
The following eight companies have applied for the Sheffield franchise:
(i) Britannia Cable Systems Sheffield;

(ii) Cable Communications (Sheffield) Ltd;

(iii) General Cable Ltd;

(iv) Sheffield Cable Teleplus Plc;

(v) Sheffield Cable Media Ltd;

(vi) Sheffield Cablevision Ltd;

(vii) Sheffield Television and Communications Ltd; and

(viii) Telecable of Sheffield Ltd.
The Cable Authority hopes to award the franchise in early June. Applications for the Barnsley franchise close on 16 March.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his earliest estimate of the date at which all of the United Kingdom has access to cable television coverage.

§ Mr. Mellor
The Cable Authority has awarded or advertised franchises potentially covering 14.5 million homes, which is approximately two thirds of the total number of homes in the United Kingdom. It has always been recognised it was unlikely that all homes would ever be cabled.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the initial application fee charge requested by the Cable Authority for a cable television franchise; what proportion is returnable to unsuccessful applicants; and if he will make a statement as to what the application fee charge is used for.

§ Mr. Mellor
I understand from the Cable Authority that application fees are charged according to the following tariff:

Number of homes in franchise area Application fee £

Up to 50,000 5,500

50,001 to 150,000 12,000

150,001 to 250,000 18,000

250,001 to 350,000 25,000

Over 350,000 30,000

Application fees are not returnable to unsuccessful applicants.
This application fee is levied in accordance with section 6(1) of the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984. Under section 18(1) of that Act the authority is under a duty to ensure that its revenues are sufficient to enable them to meet their obligations and to discharge its functions under the Act. A copy of the Cable Authority's annual report and accounts is available in the Library.

Number of homes in franchise area	Application fee £
Up to 50,000	5,500
50,001 to 150,000	12,000
150,001 to 250,000	18,000
250,001 to 350,000	25,000
Over 350,000	30,000