§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority, and for what reasons, the Cable Authority ceased taking the RTL Astra channel.
§ Mr. MellorThe Cable Authority is responsible under the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984 for the regulation of programme content on cable television. Section 10 of the 1984 Act places the authority under a duty to do all that it can to ensure that all licensed services comply with a number of requirements, which are codified in the authority's programme codes and guidelines. I understand the Cable Authority concluded that RTL Plus was in breach of these requirements and that it was therefore no longer acceptable.