asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will be ready to give consideration to granting cable stations such as WSM community radio a licence to broadcast low-power off air.

The scope for community radio broadcasting services is one of the subjects which the Home Office local radio working party already has under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community-based prospective radio stations have applied for low-power off air licences.

We have received 13 applications for permission to provide community broadcast services using low-powered radio transmitters.