§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has made to the broadcasting authority about having the shipping forecast times on the long wave.
§ Mr. HanleyI have been asked to reply.
This is a matter for the Meteorological Office under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, Meteorological Office to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Barry Field, dated 15 March 1994:
I am responding to your Parliamentary Question concerning the timing of the shipping forecasts.The importance of the shipping forecast is well recognised by the BBC, the Met Office and the Department of Transport. Although the situation has been considered in the context of other BBC radio programme changes, it has been agreed that the times of the shipping forecast will remain unchanged. On very rare occasions, the 1750 shipping forecast may be delayed if test matches (to be broadcast on Radio 4) are at a critical stage; if so an announcement will be made at 1750 giving the new time of broadcast.