HC Deb 07 November 1995 vol 265 c719W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the percentage of the land area of each county in England which is(a) cabled and (b) currently being cabled. [41672]

Mr. Sproat

The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

Mr. Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will give powers to the Independent Television Commission to alter and amend the boundaries of a local delivery area proposed by a cable franchise applicant so as not to exclude sizeable towns and adjacent settlements. [41674]

Mr. Sproat

The Broadcasting Act 1990 gives the ITC powers to determine the areas to be covered by local delivery licences and to alter those areas when licences come up for renewal.

Mr. Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many local delivery cable franchise areas stand alone and are not contiguous with another. [41673]

Mr. Sproat

Nineteen of the 127 cable franchises awarded by the Cable Authority, and two of the 22 local delivery franchises advertised by the Independent Television Commission, which replaced the authority, stand alone and are not contiguous with another.