§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Sunset Radio and the future of ethnic minority broadcasting in Manchester.
§ Mr. MellorSunset Radio was the first of the IBA's "incremental" radio contractors to begin broadcasting. It opened on 22 October 1989, six months after being awarded the contract. It broadcasts on 102.0 MHz (VHF/FM) for 24 hours a day, serving a number of ethnic minority communities within the Manchester area. I understand that some internal reorganisation has taken place recently; this is a matter for the station itself, under overall IBA supervision.
The Broadcasting Bill, which was introduced to Parliament in December 1989, paves the way for further expansion of independent radio. The new Radio Authority will be able to offer licences for many more local stations catering for a range of listeners' tastes and interests, including services for ethnic minorities. The location of the services will depend on demand and the availability of suitable frequencies.