Attacher
413
Business of the House
Parliamentary Debates.
vol. 19
OL ON
4 MARCH 1982
Mr. Robert Parry (Liverpool, Scotland Exchange): The Leader of the House will have seen early-day motion 301 concerning human rights in Hong Kong, now supported by 125 Members of this House.
[That this House recognises the merit of the social and community work of Ms Christine Vertucci
among the poor, the homeless, and low income groups in Hong Kong and her campaign for health and safety at work; deplores the decision of the Hong Kong Government to expel her from the Colony without giving a cause for its actions; condemns this arbitrary action and violation of human rights; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to reverse that decision in order to prevent democratic, human and civil rights and freedom of speech and justice in the Colony becoming a mockery and a charade.]
Will he at some time arrange a debate on Hong Kong so that we can find out to whom the Hong Kong Government are answerable-whether it is to the Jockey Club, the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank
or this Parliament?
Mr. Pym: That matter would be relevant to a foreign affairs debate.
Ballot and Prime Minister's Questions
Mr. Speaker: I have two observations to make before I call the Secretary of State for the Home Department to make his statement.
First, I remind hon. Members that if anyone is fortunate enough to be selected in the ballot for the Adjournment debate he is not free to transfer it, at least not without some consultation with my office.
Secondly, I hope that hon. Members will desist from writing in to me asking to be called at Prime Minister's Question Time. Everyone is on an equal footing at Prime Minister's Question Time and I try to ration the number of supplementary questions as best I can by keeping a record.
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Satellite Broadcasting
Satellite Broadcasting
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414
The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. William Whitelaw): With permission, Mr. Speaker, I will make a statement about the Government's intentions regarding the future development of direct broadcasting by satellite-DBS.
has
The House will recall the report of the Home Office study of DBS published last May. Reaction to that report been largely constructive and positive. The Government now see a need for early decisions if the industrial opportunities which DBS offers this country are to be grasped in good time, in a situation in which there will be keen international competition.
The Government have therefore decided, in principle, that this country should make an early start with DBS, with the aim of having a service in operation in 1986. Because of the importance of making this early start, the Government have concluded that the best course would be to start with two channels initially; the number of channels could be increased up to the maximum of five channels permitted by international allocation, as and when demand justified it. The services would be transmitted at powers sufficient to permit both individual reception and community reception with cable distribution. I intend to make a further announcement shortly about the future role of cable.
As regards finance, the Government expect the capital cost of providing the satellite system to be found in the private sector.
On the industrial side, various interests in the aerospace and related industries have shown that they are ready to play their part in this challenging new venture, and we shall be working closely with them and with the domestic electronics industry to ensure that the economic benefits are effectively realised for the United Kingdom.
On the broadcasting side, it is clear that DBS must develop in a way that is consistent with our existing broadcasting arrangements, especially as regards super- vision by a broadcasting authority and maintenance of proper programme standards. The BBC has already put forward proposals for two DBS channels. One would be a subscription service, including a substantial element of feature films and major sporting, cultural and other events not presently available for transmission on BBC | or BBC 2. The other would be a service which would draw on the best television programmes from around the world—and indeed from this country. This would be financed basically by licence fee revenue, which would probably include a supplemental licence fee for DBS.
The IBA and commercial television companies have also shown some interest in providing DBS services, but their plans are less well advanced. Additionally, more time will be needed to devise the right framework, which would be likely to involve legislation.
In these circumstances the Government believe that the right course, if the necessary early agreements are to be reached between satellite providers and users, is to authorise a go-ahead with the BBC proposals. However, the Government attaches importance to the participation of commercial television companies in DBS. What we are now proposing would leave ample future opportunities
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