asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the Broadcasting Bill, he will arrange for the British Broadcasting Corporation and Harlech Television to avoid overlapping programmes and repetitions of important items, and consider making an early announcement of extra financial assistance.

Clause 20 of the Broadcasting Bill requires the BBC and the IBA to consult each other so as to ensure that the scheduling of their respective Welsh language programmes is such as will best serve the interest of Welsh and non-Welsh speakers as a whole. There are already informal arrangements between the authorities which are designed to prevent clashes between Welsh language programmes on the BBC and on HTV Wales. I have no plans to make available any extra financial assistance for the provision of Welsh language programmes.