§ Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future ownership and use of the Marco Polo satellite.
§ Mr. Peter LloydBritish Sky Broadcasting operates five television channels on DBS frequencies via the Marco Polo satellite, which it owns. Under the terms of an agreement to be entered into between the Independent Television Commission and BSkyB, the DBS programme contract originally entered into between the Independent Broadcasting Authority and British Satellite Broadcasting Ltd. would be allowed to run until 30 December 1992. From 30 June 1991 the ITC would be able to withdraw all or any or part of any of the DBS channels for use by domestic satellite licensees appointed by it under the terms of the Broadcasting Act 1990. BSkyB would make capacity on the Marco Polo satellites available to such licensees until the end of 1992 and beyond.