HC Deb 25 January 2002 vol 378 cc1111-2W
John Barrett

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what plans she has to encourage the provision of foreign language programmes on independently owned(a) television channels and (b) radio stations; [29094]

(2) what responsibility her Department has for the provision of foreign language (a) television and (b) radio within the United Kingdom; [29093]

(3) what recent representations her Department has received from (a) right hon. and hon. Members and (b) others on the provision of foreign language television and radio in the United Kingdom. [29092]

Dr. Howells

My Department has no responsibility for the provision of foreign language television or radio and the Government have no plans to intervene in the UK market for such services. The Independent Television Commission and the Radio Authority are responsible for regulating television and radio programme services, including foreign language services, provided from places in the UK.

I have received one recent representation on this subject from the right hon. Member for Kensington and Chelsea (Mr. Portillo) about the withdrawal of Spanish, Italian and German channels by a cable operator. I understand that members of the public have very occasionally raised the issue with my Department.