§ Lord Campbell-Savoursasked Her Majesty's Government:
What criteria the Independent Television Commission are required to consider in dealing with applications for United Kingdom broadcasting licences from overseas broadcasters. [HL3460]
§ Baroness BlackstoneSections 3 and 6(1) and Part II of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Act 1990 set out the criteria which the Independent Television Commission (ITC) is required to consider, including that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a licence and that the licensed service would not offend good taste and decency, will present news with due accuracy and impartiality, present political and industrial issues impartially and show religious programmes responsibly. Additionally under the provisions of Section 143 of the Broadcasting Act 1996, if the ITC has grounds to suspect that an applicant is disqualified on grounds of being a political body, the commission is required to ask the applicant to provide further information to enable them to consult the appropriate authorities.
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§ Lord Campbell-Savoursasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the average time for the clearance by the Independent Television Commission of broadcasting licence applications from overseas broadcasters. [HL3461]
§ Baroness BlackstoneThe Independent Television Commission does not have any specific information about the average time taken to process licences. The commision indicates in its guidelines to applicants that the process generally takes approximately four weeks, but the timing depends on the complexity of the application and whether the supporting information is sufficient.