asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make a statement about the development of community radio.

Although there is as yet no precise definition of community radio, it is most commonly seen as representing a third tier of radio quite distinct from those services at present provided by the BBC and the IBA, and it describes two possible concepts. One represents the most local form of broadcasting: a low-power transmitter broadcasting to the immediate neighbourhood, with the close involvement of the community. The other is of a station broadcasting across a wider area to what is called a "community of interest", such as an ethnic minority, or the enthusiasts for a particular kind of music.We have for some time been interested in the idea of community radio and we are anxious to provide the opportunity for its development. It has, however, been difficult to assess what scope there might be for community radio in frequency terms, in advance of the international conference held at the end of last year which planned the expansion of the VHF waveband. In the light of that conference, we now know what spectrum will be available to the United Kingdom, in what timescale, so that it will now be possible to establish what assignments could be devoted to community radio.Nonetheless, there remain some decisions which need to be taken, and the new frequencies will in any event not be available for some time. There will almost certainly be more would-be broadcasters than frequencies available. We shall therefore need to decide how to choose between competing applicants, and how the new stations are to be financed. We shall also have to consider what limits, if any, should be placed on what can be broadcast, and what the relationship should be with existing local radio stations.My right honourable friend the Home Secretary is firmly resolved to reach practical and positive decisions on all these matters as quickly as possible, because he believes that community radio is a constructive development which should now be given a clear impetus. Community radio will promote self-help, increase freedom of speech, and be of value to many local communities.It is important to distinguish between community radio and the present pirate stations, which cause interference, steal news broadcasts and other copyright material, and operate in flagrant defiance of the law. The Government will continue to take action against the pirates, in order to retain control of the spectrum for licensed broadcasters. These will include as soon as the necessary decisions can be implemented, community radio stations—perhaps starting with some experimental stations and building up as frequencies become available. But there will not be room for any community radio if the pirates have occupied all the spectrum beforehand.We hope to make a further statement before too long in the light of our study of how the development of community radio can best be taken forward.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the present annual cost of defence, stated as £17–£18 thousand million, will be added to by the cost of the proposal to create satellite studies; and whether the United Kingdom has decided to make any contribution itself or in conjunction with any other countries associated with NATO.

The programme to provide a new military communications satellite, known as Skynet 4, is now well advanced and financial provision for two satellites in Stage 1 has been made within the defence programme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the 3 per cent. annual increase in the cost of defence undertaken by NATO is to be continued, and to what extent this is to be supplemented by contributions from other countries concerned.

Defence budget plans announced today in the 1985 Public Expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 9428) confirm the Government's decision last year that its commitment to real growth in defence expenditure, in line with the NATO aim of 3 per cent. increases, would not be extended beyond 1985–86. At that stage, United Kingdom defence spending will be some one-fifth higher in real terms than in 1978–79, as the result of an unprecedented period of sustained growth. It is for each individual NATO member to determine its defence expenditure in the light of NATO guidance as well as other factors. We currently spend more in absolute terms and per capita than any of our European allies and the proportion of GDP that we devote to defence is among the highest in the alliance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of the costs incurred by heavy goods vehicles for the maintenance of roads, are paid for by road hauliers in taxation.

Taxation is not hypothecated to particular expenditure. Heavy goods vehicles are expected to pay to the Exchequer about £1,120 millions in fuel and vehicle excise duties in 1984–85. This compares with their road track costs of £964 million of which £578 million is attributable to maintenance expenditure.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many London Regional Transport Underground stations have been or are being modernised in 1984–85 and how many will be modernised in 1985–86.

Under a modernisation programme begun in 1981, a total of nine schemes will have been completed by the end of the financial year 1984–85. A further 21 schemes are expected to have been completed by the end of the financial year 1985–86.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much London Regional Transport is spending on the introduction of the "Capitalcard".

Approximately £150,000 on initial publicity and ticket printing.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much aid has been given to Zimbabwe since independence, how much more has been agreed, and whether any conditions are attached to it.

Between independence in 1980 and the end of 1983, £88.7 million was spent in British development aid to Zimbabwe, including debt relief and loans from the Commonwealth Development Corporation. The total for 1984 will be available later this year.At the beginning of 1985 nearly £37 million arising from various agreements and pledges remained unspent. The general conditions attached to this aid are the normal ones relating to procurement of British goods and services and to management of expenditure, except that two financial aid agreements provide that the Zimbabwe Government shall use for the purpose of rural resettlement the money raised locally by the sale of sterling aid funds for goods and services. In addition, specific conditions are attached to allocations for particular projects or purposes to give them the best chance of making a successful impact.