HC Deb 05 December 1996 vol 286 cc731-2W
Mr. David Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals she has to extend the provisions of the Broadcasting (Channel 3 Transmission and Shared Distribution Costs) Order 1991. [8045]

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The Broadcasting (Channel 3 Transmission and Shared Distribution Costs) Order 1991 expires on 31 December 1996. I intend shortly to lay a statutory instrument under section 66 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 to extend the provisions of the 1991 order until 31 December 2002. The Government will review the provision of transmission facilities to the channel 3 network in the course of 2000 and decide at that point whether the order should be further renewed beyond 2002.