§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals he has to ensure that schools in rural areas in Wales will be able to pick up frequencies of educational radio programmes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeThe BBC has announced plans to transfer the educational programmes at present on Radio 5 to other networks. I understand that the BBC believes that this will improve coverage and quality of reception of these programmes.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the future of educational broadcasting on television and radio in Wales.
§ Mr. BrookeThe Government hope to publish a White Paper in the spring setting out proposals for the future of the BBC, including its role in providing educational broadcasting in all parts of the United Kingdom.
S4C and HTV are required to provide educational programmes in their television services. There are no similar requirements on independent radio services, although I understand that two local radio stations have agreed to include some Welsh language education programmes in their services.
723W
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many hours were dedicated to Welsh language educational broadcasts on(a) radio and (b) television for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeAccording to the information available to me, the number of hours dedicated to Welsh language educational broadcasts by the BBC and S4C, in each of the last five years, were:
Year Radio Television 1989–90 152 90 1990–91 159 150.05 1991–92 166 133.10 1992–93 167 125.45 1993–941 297 98.3 1 Includes projected figures for 1994. The figures include both programmes for schools and adult education programmes.