Written question asked by David Stewart (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 May 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 May 2001. It was answered by Janet Anderson (Labour) on Thursday, 10 May 2001 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Dept for Culture Media and Sport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a statement on the opportunities available to Christian radio stations with analogue licences applying for digital licences. - Inc ref to White Paper 'A New Future for Communications' (holding answer 8 May 2001).

Answer: Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the opportunities available to Christian radio stations with analogue licences applying for digital licences. [160382] Janet Anderson: [holding answer 8 May 2001]: Religious bodies are currently disqualified from holding digital radio licences and are therefore unable to apply for automatic renewal of their analogue licences, under the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1996. The White Paper "A New Future for Communications" makes clear the Government's commitment to remove the disqualification on the ownership of local digital licences by religious bodies, and invited comments on relaxing the restrictions regarding the ownership of other licences by such bodies. We are currently considering the responses made.

Secondary information