Written question asked by Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru) on Tuesday, 19 June 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 21 June 2018. It was answered by Margot James (Conservative) on Tuesday, 26 June 2018 on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Radio: Licensing

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of revising sections 104 and 105 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 to enable Ofcom to have regard to a Welsh language criteria when awarding local commercial radio licences.

Answer: We are committed to reducing the burdens on commercial radio and will introduce legislation reform the existing licensing system when Parliamentary time allows. We do not believe that changes to enable Ofcom to have regard to a Welsh language criteria in awarding licenses, something that could significantly increase the regulatory burdens on commercial radio operators in Wales, is the right approach. The government welcomes the recent decision to launch a BBC Cymru 2 service on digital radio that operates along side the community radio services that carry Welsh language services in Wales.

Secondary information