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Citizens Band Radio

Volume 35: debated on Monday 17 January 1983

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asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there were in 1982 for (a) illegal AM citizens band transmissions and (b) FM citizens band transmissions without licence.

(a) Approximately 2,350; (b) 24 including 13 cases where a licence was held but its terms were not complied with.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences were issued for citizens band sets in the first full year of issue; and what is the rate of renewal for those issued in the first month.

About 350,000 licences were issued in the first year of the C.B. service; and 36 per cent. of those issued in the first month have been renewed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he proposes for monitoring citizens band transmissions for (a) stopping the use of bad language, (b) the playing of records and tapes and (c) the rebroadcasting of radio and television programmes.

The radio interference service of British Telecom is at present heavily committed to dealing with the many complaints of interference to broadcast reception and the emergency services which arise from the illicit use of non-approved citizens band radio apparatus. BT has, however, been asked to investigate breaches of licensing conditions of the authorised CB service when it can do so without detriment to the work of dealing with interference, which must remain its priority.