§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will take into account the audience reach of radio stations when assessing the most efficient use of spectrum for policy purposes. [29737]
§ Mr. DorrellGovernment policy aims to ensure that frequencies are used so as to enhance the range of listener choice. Under section 123 of the Broadcasting Act 1990, the Radio Authority is obliged to ensure that the frequencies assigned to the authority are used as efficiently as is reasonably practicable.
§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will relax the restrictions on the concentration of radio ownership in major urban areas. [29738]
§ Mr. DorrellI announced on 23 May that the Government would be enacting immediate secondary legislation to liberalise the existing rules on radio ownership. One effect of these changes is to remove the current limit on the holdings of radio licences in areas where the number of persons over the age of 15 resident in the area for which the service is provided exceeds 1 million, but does not exceed 4.5 million. The Government
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Year Let by Activity Name of successful bid Won by in-house bid 1992–93 DNH Computer equipment and related services SEMA Group Ltd. No in-house bid 1993–94 DNH Consultancy for advice on competitive tendering of works management functions Watts and Partners No in-house bid DNH Reprographics William Lea FM No in-house bid DNH Central Typing and Secretarial Manpower Plc No in-house bid DNH Mailroom Security Despatch Group No in-house bid DNH Security Royal British Legion Association No in-house bid DNH Minor Maintenance Richard Devine No in-house bid DNH Cleaning Ramoneur No in-house bid DNH Reception Manpower Plc No in-house bid DNH Payments and Accounts Services Accounts Services Agency No in-house bid The Royal Parks Property maintenance management Tarmac Facilities Management No in-house bid Historic Royal Palaces Kew Palace—Security Services Royal British Legion No in-house bid Historic Royal Palaces Hampton Court Palace— Gardens Litter Clearance SITA No in-house bid Historic Royal Palaces Hampton Court Palace Initial Cleaning Services No in-house bid Historic Royal Palaces Kensington Palace—Catering De blanks No in-house bid Historic Royal Palaces Kensington Palace—Cleaning Swanlux No in-house bid Historic Royal Palaces Kensington Palace—Cash Collection Armaguard/Security Express No in-house bid Historic Royal Palaces Banqueting House—Cleaning Services Sloane Cleaning No in-house bid Historic Royal Palaces Banqueting House—Security Royal British Legion No in-house bid Historic Royal Palaces Banqueting House—Porterage Universal No in-house bid Historic Royal Palaces Banqueting House—Catering 10 companies used—selected by tender No in-house bid Historic Royal Palaces Banqueting House—Floristry Nancy Ford No in-house bid intend to enact primary legislation at the earliest available opportunity which will remove the numerical limits on the number of licences that can be held, and regulate ownership by means of the existing points system. Regional, and local plurality will be safeguarded by the overlapping areas provisions, which prevent a licensee from holding more than one licence in each waveband in areas where services overlap. However, the changes will allow companies to expand significantly within local radio across the nation.