§ Mr. DunnachieTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the Oracle text service on television.
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§ Mr. MellorThe Broadcasting Bill will introduce a new regulatory regime for the allocation of the spare capacity on broadcasting signals. This regime will allow the development of new uses for this capacity, other than teletext.
In view of concern that these proposals might result in the absence of a commercial teletext service after 1992, I announced on 15 March that we intended to amend the Bill to require the Independent Television Commission (ITC) to advertise a teletext service using part of the spare capacity on the Channel 3 and 4 signals. The amount of spare capacity to be allocated to this service by the ITC would be subject to the approval of the Secretary of State. The exact amount to be allocated will be a matter for further careful consultation. The necessary amendments to the Bill will he brought forward at the Report stage of the Bill.
Subject to parliamentary approval, the new proposals will come into operation on 1 January 1993, when Oracle's present contract comes to an end. Oracle will be free to apply to the ITC for a new licence.