§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received on the publication of television programme listings; and what evaluation he has made of the effects of charges on local newspapers;
(2) if he will again review the implications of the Broadcasting Act for television listings in local newspapers; and what steps he will take to monitor referrals of charges for listings to the copyright tribunal.
§ Mr. Peter LloydWe have received a number of representations about the proposed scale of charges for the14W publication of television listings. The Broadcasting Act 1990, however, makes provision for the independent Copyright tribunal to adjudicate in any case in which a publisher considers that the charge imposed for publishing television listings is unreasonable. I see no need to monitor referrals to the tribunal. It is premature to consider the effects of charges on local newspapers until the procedure set out in the Act has been concluded.