§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what powers(a) his Department and (b) the Radio Authority have to intervene in the take-over of one or more of the three companies holding independent national radio licences; and if he will make a statement. [46273]
§ Mr. Fisher[holding answer 16 June 1998]: The Radio Authority is solely responsible for licencing independent radio services in the UK. The Authority enforces the strict limits on the holding of national analogue radio licences by companies active in other sectors of the media, and the other restrictions on the holding of licences set by the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996. It may refuse to issue a national radio licence and has powers to rescind licences already issued.
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§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment he has made of the implications for plurality and diversity of ownership within the media industries of the proposed take-over by News International companies of Talk Radio UK Ltd; and if he will make a statement; [46272]
(2) what plans he has to prevent further expansion in the United Kingdom broadcasting sector by News International and associated companies; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which such expansion is in the public interest; [46276]
(3) what steps he is taking to promote plurality and diversity of ownership within the United Kingdom media industries. [46271]
§ Mr. Fisher[holding answer 16 June 1998]: The media ownership controls included in the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996 are designed to protect plurality and diversity in the broadcasting industry. I have no plans to introduce further legislation. One of the effects of the Broadcasting Acts is that, since its newspaper titles have over 20 per cent. of national circulation, News International cannot control a national analogue radio licence nor have a holding of more than 20 per cent. in a company which controls such a licence.