asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what representations he has received from the Independent Broadcasting Authority regarding the financial affairs of the London Broadcasting Company.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what requests he has received from the IBA for a variation of any of the undertakings given by the Government regarding the commercial radio all-news station in London on 12th April 1972; and what reply he has given.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications when he last discussed the question of the London Broadcasting Company with the Chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Authority.

I have received no representations from the Independent Broadcasting Authority about the London Broadcasting Company, nor have I discussed this matter with the chairman, since nothing has arisen which calls for Government intervention.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a major financial crisis in the London Broadcasting Company and that the National Union of Journalists has already asked the Independent Broadcasting Authority for an inquiry? As the IBA will not contact him, will the right hon. Gentleman contact the IBA and say that, while it is obviously true that the company must have time to find its feet, its feet will be kicked from under it by any one or more of three or four major threats—mass redundancies, which are now being threatened, a cut-back in the reporting standards to a rolling news programme, a shift in ownership or newspaper control? Will the Minister ensure that that does not happen and that in return the IBA will allow LBC to get the money it should have from Capital Radio for the new service which it provides?

The union situation is a matter for direct negotiation between the unions and the employers concerned. I am satisfied that the IBA is watching the situation closely.

Does my right hon. Friend recall that in the debate on 12th April the Government gave an assurance that, if the standard of news on the station was not adequate, it would be permissible for other stations not to take its news services? Can he give an assurance that none of the stations either contemplated or already in existence need continue to take this inadequate service? Secondly, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that there will be no question—as was also repeated in the debate—that anyone else will have to bear the cost of subsidising this station, whether it be other contractors, the Treasury or the IBA itself, from a loan?

It is still much too early to apply blanket condemnation. This station is experimenting with a format completely new to British radio, and we must give it every encouragement to develop.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give a categorical assurance that, no matter what the pressure or cajoling, he will not permit this station to be turned into anything other than the news and information service it is required to be and that, if the choice is between turning it into a news plus pop station and allowing it to go under, he will allow it to sink unmourned beneath the waves?

If the company wanted to make any major changes in format, it would have to discuss its proposals with the IBA, and the Chairman of the IBA would have to put them to the Minister.

Will my right hon. Friend remain quite firm on this and accept that the public like this station and do not agree that he should contemplate its sinking beneath the waves?

I can confirm that I have had many letters of appreciation from listeners who value the contact that is given to them with the outside world and with sources of information as a result of the broadcasts put out by LBC.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take care in this matter not to show the same remarkable complacency as seems to characterise the IBA's handling of it? Does he not think that the anxiety shown on both sides of the House justifies an independent inquiry into the whole unfortunate affair? Does it not underline his need to sweep away the secrecy which surrounds the way in which franchises are awarded by the IBA, so that we can see what sort of criteria the IBA is using in these matters?

The awarding of franchises is the responsibility of the IBA, not of the Minister, as the hon. Gentleman well knows, and that is the way it should be. There is no complacency whatever on anyone's part. One should not conduct a campaign against something which has only recently been launched, which is still going through fairly early difficulties and troubles but which none the less offers fairly good prospects for a bright future.