§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints her Department has received about unlicensed broadcasting stations in each of the last five years. [3475]
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§ Mr. Alexander[holding answer 12 July 2001]: The Radiocommunications Agency has no centrally held figures for 1996, 1997 and the first quarter of 1998. On 1 April 1998, the agency's pirate radio reporting point started recording specific complaints about pirate radio interference in keeping with the provisions of the Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act 1996. The figures for 1 April to 31 December 1998 and 1999–2000 are as follows:
Year Number 1998 83 1999 150 2000 187 The number of complaints received in 2001 stands at 148 as at 13 July.
§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of unlicensed broadcasting stations operating in the United Kingdom. [3474]
§ Mr. Alexander[holding answer 12 July 2001]: The Radiocommunications Agency, which is responsible for taking action against pirate radio stations, undertook operations against 231 identified stations in 2000.
§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many seizures of equipment from the Voice of Africa pirate radio station have been made. [3476]
§ Mr. Alexander[holding answer 12 July 2001]: Radiocommunications Agency staff undertook 13 operations against the Voice of Africa in 2000 and six so far this year, with equipment seized on each occasion.
§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the deterrent effect of penalties available for unlicensed broadcasting. [3478]
§ Mr. Alexander[holding answer 12 July 2001]: The maximum penalties on indictment for unlicensed broadcasting under section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 are up to two years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. The actual penalties are for the courts to determine.
§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many convictions of unlicensed broadcasting stations under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 have been obtained in each of the last five years. [3481]
§ Mr. Alexander[holding answer 12 July 2001]: The number of convictions secured by the Radiocommunications Agency against persons for unlicensed broadcasting in the last five years is:
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Year Number 1996 28 1997 41 1998 53 1999 47 2000 41
§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many prosecutions have been undertaken against unlicensed broadcasting stations in each of the last five years. [3482]
§ Mr. Alexander[holding answer 12 July 2001]: The number of prosecutions undertaken by the Radiocommunications Agency against persons for unlicensed broadcasting in the last five years is:
Year Number 1996 28 1997 41 1998 53 1999 47 2000 41
§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints her Department has received about unlicensed broadcasting by Voice of Africa. [3479]
§ Mr. Alexander[holding answer 12 July 2001]: The Radiocommunications Agency has received four complaints addressed to headquarters and one to its London regional office about interference caused by Voice of Africa. All the complaints have been by an authorised broadcaster.
§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many seizures of equipment from unlicensed broadcasters have taken place in each of the last five years. [3477]
§ Mr. Alexander[holding answer 12 July 2001]: The number of equipment seizures by Radiocommunications Agency staff from pirate broadcasters in each of the last five years is as follows:
Year Number 1996 842 1997 820 1998 928 1999 1,414 2000 1,494 The figure for seizures of equipment in 2001 stands at 801 as at 29 June.
§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been(a) the maximum and (b) the average fine imposed by the courts for unlicensed broadcasting in breach of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 over the last five years. [3480]
§ Mr. Alexander[holding answer 12 July 2001]: The information is as follows:
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Year £ maximum Average 1996 400 350 1997 500 272 1998 750 452 1999 500 193 2000 1,400 317 In addition to fines, the courts have also awarded periods of community service and terms of imprisonment to those convicted of unlicensed broadcasting.