8.54 pm
The Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy (Mr Edward Vaizey): It is a great pleasure to respond to the right hon. Member for East Ham (Stephen Timms), who made his case in a characteristically forthright, clear and brief manner, getting all the right points across as succinctly as possible. I shall try to follow his lead. I am also grateful for the contributions from my hon. Friend the Member for South West Devon (Mr Streeter), my right hon. Friend the Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith) and the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon), who has contributed to many debates in which I have taken part.
It might sound like I am going off topic, but I hope that as I speak it will become clear why I wish to talk generally about digital radio. As the right hon. Gentleman made clear, Premier Christian Radio is now available in Northern Ireland thanks to digital radio. I was interested to hear him talk about the postcard campaign that Premier Christian listeners might undertake to save their radio station. I hope that we can turn this army to another purpose, because I hope that they will work with me to promote the virtues of digital radio. As he mentioned, I have been a great supporter of digital radio precisely because it promotes diversity in broadcasting.
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The BBC, a laudable institution, dominates the radio airwaves, with something like two thirds of listening, and digital broadcasting is a great opportunity for a much wider platform of voices to be heard, which is why his points about whether we should have another pop music station or preserve Premier Christian Radio were so well made.
For that reason, the Government are working hard to promote digital radio, and I am pleased that figures for digital radio listening, driven in part, perhaps, by listeners to Premier Christian Radio, have risen in the last five years from about a quarter to almost 40%, and that the proportion of households with digital radios, and therefore able to receive Premier Christian Radio, has risen from about 32% when we entered office to about 50% now. It is also possible to listen to Premier Christian Radio in the car. Two thirds of new cars now have digital radios fitted as standard, although we need to do more to get cheaper car conversion kits for those of us who drive an older make of vehicle. That is all because of our digital radio action plan pushing out key improvements in digital radio infrastructure.
There are several successful digital radio music stations that have shown how viable this platform is. For example, Radio 6 Music was another station threatened with closure, not by being thrown off the mux it was broadcasting on, but by the decision of BBC bureaucrats. It might interest the right hon. Gentleman to know that I personally intervened, and although I would be too humble to claim credit for 6 Music’s survival, I hope that when the history of that station is written, I will earn a small footnote. In fact, 6 Music is now more popular than BBC Radio 3.
The right hon. Gentleman mentioned pop music stations. Before concentrating on the virtues of Premier Christian Radio, it is worth saying that pop music stations do also have some virtues. Absolute 80s draws 1.5 million listeners every week, making Bauer the first radio group where more than 50% of its listeners now listen on digital radio. There is further good news for those devoted to these new digital radio stations. The construction of 182 new digital transmitters across the UK—
Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): Order. I have given the Minister a free rein, but, in fairness, I think there are a few Members here who would like him to concentrate on the debate. All this good news is welcome, but the debate is more about Premier Christian Radio than the success of pop stations.
Mr Vaizey: I take your point, Mr Deputy Speaker. In fact, on the next page of my brief, it says, “This brings us on to the crux of the issue and debate today”, so I had better start reading from there.
As the right hon. Gentleman said, Premier Christian Radio started broadcasting on D1 in 2009. We are in a period of transition—I will come to that in a minute—but there is an opportunity for Premier Christian Radio arising from our announcement of another national multiplex—the imaginatively name D2, to go alongside the equally imaginatively named D1. The good news is that Premier Christian Radio is part of both bidding consortiums for D2. So Premier Christian Radio should
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and, I expect, will have a great future when the D2 multiplex is launched, which we expect to take place in the spring of 2016.
Now, let us get back to where we were with Premier Christian Radio on D1. It had a five-year contract, which was due to end at Christmas, as the right hon. Gentleman said. That was extended until the end of March. Since Christmas, additional capacity has become available on D1. As either my hon. Friend the. Member for South West Devon or the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed mentioned, there have been discussions with Premier about taking up this capacity. Those were on commercial terms, but in order to take up that capacity, Premier Christian Radio would have to transmit on D1 until 2018. Clearly, if Premier Christian Radio wants to move to D2 in mid-2016, it does not want to have a slot on D1 that runs until 2018. Furthermore, the D1 slot on offer is at 80 kilobits rather than the 64 kilobits that Premier, primarily a speech service, uses at the moment.
These are important matters. Technically, I should not intervene in these discussions, which are commercial, so it is not for me to influence them, but this is an important radio station—one I support wholeheartedly—and I spoke to its managing director, Peter Kerridge, this afternoon to ascertain the situation. I hope a solution can be found. I am pleased with some of the progress made. As I understand it, Arqiva is going to see if it can re-purpose some other spare capacity on D1 to create a 64 kilobit stream for Premier Christian to take over. For that to work, there would need to be some give and take on all sides.
It is important, and, I think, good news for Premier, that even if for the sake argument the contract came to an end on 31 March, Arqiva would still need to apply to Ofcom to change services and until a decision is made by Ofcom, Arqiva will need to meet the current format requirements for the slot. That would allow Premier to continue to broadcast potentially beyond 31 March. As the right hon. Gentleman noted, Ofcom would need to consider whether the multiplex was still catering to the variety of tastes and services required under the original licence. Ofcom cannot intervene in that respect or in the commercial negotiations until any application is made by Arqiva to change the current line-up of services.
The right hon. Gentleman mentioned that D1 carries another Christian station, UCB, which will continue to cater for other Christian listeners, and listeners to Premier can listen to it on tablets, smartphones and, of course, on Freeview until D2 comes on stream. It is available on medium wave in some areas. I want to urge both parties to continue their discussions and to negotiate in good faith. Premier was an early adopter of digital radio. When it was on the D1 multiplex, there were only three other stations on the national commercial multiplex. It is a matter of good faith, shall we say, to recognise the stations that had faith in digital radio at an early stage, which were part and parcel of the success that digital radio is now, and are therefore part and parcel of the success that Arqiva is enjoying by being a broadcaster.
I think that there is an opportunity for a solution to emerge. It seems to me pretty obvious that Arqiva should come to the table, sit down with Premier, negotiate a solution for a 64 kilobit service that runs until the spring of 2016 and then allow Premier to move seamlessly to D2. I am not influencing the outcome of the D2
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bidding process, because, as I said earlier, Premier is part of both bids, so it should be on the D2 service regardless of who wins.
It is not helpful for such an important broadcaster with such a devoted and enthusiastic audience to be subject to this level of uncertainty. I think that Arqiva needs to understand that there are issues that go beyond purely commercial graft, or hard grind, and that there is something called “doing the right thing”. I hope that, in this instance, Arqiva does do the right thing by Premier.
It is important to remember that, although the muxcos must comply with the licence from Ofcom, they act as gatekeepers to a certain extent. They are subject to Ofcom oversight, but as more radio listening becomes digital and demand for capacity increases, it may be necessary to ensure that Ofcom has the appropriate
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powers to intervene if necessary, and we may need to think about that in the next Parliament.
I think that the right hon. Member for East Ham, and those who have intervened in the debate, have put the most forceful case possible for Premier Christian Radio. I hope and intend to see an end to the negotiations in short order, and a secure future for Premier on D1. As I have said several times tonight, I trust that it will take only 12 to 18 months to secure that future. Let us all work together to ensure that we achieve the right result.
9.6 pm
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Deferred Division
Public Health
That the draft Smoke-free (Private Vehicles) Regulations 2015, which were laid before this House on 17 December 2014, be approved.
The House divided:
Ayes 342, Noes 74.
Division No. 152]
AYES
Abbott, Ms Diane
Adams, Nigel
Aldous, Peter
Alexander, rh Danny
Alexander, rh Mr Douglas
Alexander, Heidi
Ali, Rushanara
Allen, Mr Graham
Anderson, Mr David
Arbuthnot, rh Mr James
Ashworth, Jonathan
Austin, Ian
Bailey, Mr Adrian
Bain, Mr William
Baldry, rh Sir Tony
Banks, Gordon
Barclay, Stephen
Barwell, Gavin
Beckett, rh Margaret
Begg, Dame Anne
Beith, rh Sir Alan
Benton, Mr Joe
Berger, Luciana
Berry, Jake
Birtwistle, Gordon
Blackman, Bob
Blackman-Woods, Roberta
Blackwood, Nicola
Blenkinsop, Tom
Blomfield, Paul
Blunkett, rh Mr David
Blunt, Crispin
Boles, Nick
Bottomley, Sir Peter
Brady, Mr Graham
Brake, rh Tom
Brennan, Kevin
Brine, Steve
Brokenshire, James
Brown, Mr Russell
Bryant, Chris
Buckland, Mr Robert
Burden, Richard
Burnham, rh Andy
Burns, rh Mr Simon
Burstow, rh Paul
Burt, rh Alistair
Burt, Lorely
Cable, rh Vince
Campbell, rh Mr Alan
Campbell, Mr Gregory
Campbell, rh Sir Menzies
Campbell, Mr Ronnie
Carmichael, Neil
Caton, Martin
Champion, Sarah
Chishti, Rehman
Collins, Damian
Colvile, Oliver
Connarty, Michael
Cooper, rh Yvette
Corbyn, Jeremy
Creagh, Mary
Creasy, Stella
Crockart, Mike
Cunningham, Alex
Cunningham, Mr Jim
Cunningham, Sir Tony
Curran, Margaret
Dakin, Nic
Danczuk, Simon
Darling, rh Mr Alistair
Davey, rh Mr Edward
David, Wayne
de Bois, Nick
Denham, rh Mr John
Dobson, rh Frank
Donohoe, Mr Brian H.
Doran, Mr Frank
Doughty, Stephen
Dowd, Jim
Doyle, Gemma
Dromey, Jack
Dugher, Michael
Duncan, rh Sir Alan
Duncan Smith, rh Mr Iain
Durkan, Mark
Edwards, Jonathan
Efford, Clive
Elliott, Julie
Ellis, Michael
Ellison, Jane
Ellman, Mrs Louise
Engel, Natascha
Esterson, Bill
Eustice, George
Evans, Chris
Evans, Graham
Evans, Jonathan
Evennett, Mr David
Fabricant, Michael
Fallon, rh Michael
Featherstone, rh Lynne
Fitzpatrick, Jim
Flello, Robert
Flint, rh Caroline
Flynn, Paul
Fovargue, Yvonne
Francis, Dr Hywel
Freeman, George
Freer, Mike
Gale, Sir Roger
Gapes, Mike
Garnier, Mark
George, Andrew
Gibb, Mr Nick
Gilmore, Sheila
Glen, John
Glindon, Mrs Mary
Goodman, Helen
Goodwill, Mr Robert
Gove, rh Michael
Graham, Richard
Greatrex, Tom
Green, Kate
Greening, rh Justine
Greenwood, Lilian
Grieve, rh Mr Dominic
Griffith, Nia
Griffiths, Andrew
Gummer, Ben
Gwynne, Andrew
Hague, rh Mr William
Hain, rh Mr Peter
Halfon, Robert
Hamilton, Mr David
Hammond, rh Mr Philip
Hammond, Stephen
Hancock, rh Matthew
Hancock, Mr Mike
Hanson, rh Mr David
Harrington, Richard
Harris, Rebecca
Haselhurst, rh Sir Alan
Heath, Mr David
Hendry, Charles
Herbert, rh Nick
Hermon, Lady
Hilling, Julie
Hodgson, Mrs Sharon
Hollingbery, George
Hopkins, Kelvin
Horwood, Martin
Howarth, rh Mr George
Howell, John
Hughes, rh Simon
Hunt, rh Mr Jeremy
Hunt, Tristram
Huppert, Dr Julian
Jackson, Mr Stewart
James, Margot
Jamieson, Cathy
Jarvis, Dan
Javid, rh Sajid
Jenkin, Mr Bernard
Johnson, rh Alan
Johnson, Diana
Johnson, Gareth
Johnson, Joseph
Jones, Andrew
Jones, rh Mr David
Jones, Graham
Jones, Helen
Jones, Mr Kevan
Jones, Mr Marcus
Jones, Susan Elan
Keeley, Barbara
Kelly, Chris
Kendall, Liz
Kirby, Simon
Knight, rh Sir Greg
Kwarteng, Kwasi
Lamb, rh Norman
Lancaster, Mark
Lansley, rh Mr Andrew
Lavery, Ian
Laws, rh Mr David
Lazarowicz, Mark
Leadsom, Andrea
Lee, Dr Phillip
Lewell-Buck, Mrs Emma
Lewis, Brandon
Lilley, rh Mr Peter
Lloyd, Stephen
Llwyd, rh Mr Elfyn
Lopresti, Jack
Love, Mr Andrew
Lucas, Caroline
Lucas, Ian
Mactaggart, Fiona
Mahmood, Mr Khalid
Mahmood, Shabana
Mann, John
Marsden, Mr Gordon
Maude, rh Mr Francis
McCabe, Steve
McCann, Mr Michael
McCarthy, Kerry
McCartney, Jason
McCrea, Dr William
McDonald, Andy
McDonnell, Dr Alasdair
McDonnell, John
McGovern, Alison
McGovern, Jim
McGuire, rh Dame Anne
McKechin, Ann
McKenzie, Mr Iain
McLoughlin, rh Mr Patrick
Meale, Sir Alan
Mearns, Ian
Miller, Andrew
Miller, rh Maria
Milton, Anne
Mitchell, rh Mr Andrew
Moore, rh Michael
Morden, Jessica
Morgan, rh Nicky
Morrice, Graeme (Livingston)
Morris, David
Morris, Grahame M.
(Easington)
Morris, James
Mudie, Mr George
Mulholland, Greg
Munt, Tessa
Murphy, rh Mr Jim
Murphy, rh Paul
Murray, Ian
Nandy, Lisa
Nash, Pamela
Newmark, Mr Brooks
Newton, Sarah
Nokes, Caroline
O'Donnell, Fiona
Offord, Dr Matthew
Onwurah, Chi
Opperman, Guy
Owen, Albert
Paice, rh Sir James
Parish, Neil
Patel, Priti
Pawsey, Mark
Pearce, Teresa
Perkins, Toby
Phillips, Stephen
Pickles, rh Mr Eric
Poulter, Dr Daniel
Pound, Stephen
Powell, Lucy
Pritchard, Mark
Qureshi, Yasmin
Raab, Mr Dominic
Raynsford, rh Mr Nick
Redwood, rh Mr John
Reed, Mr Jamie
Reed, Mr Steve
Reid, Mr Alan
Rifkind, rh Sir Malcolm
Ritchie, Ms Margaret
Robinson, Mr Geoffrey
Rogerson, Dan
Rotheram, Steve
Roy, Mr Frank
Rudd, Amber
Russell, Sir Bob
Rutley, David
Sanders, Mr Adrian
Sarwar, Anas
Sawford, Andy
Scott, Mr Lee
Seabeck, Alison
Selous, Andrew
Shannon, Jim
Sharma, Alok
Sharma, Mr Virendra
Sheerman, Mr Barry
Sheridan, Jim
Simmonds, rh Mark
Simpson, David
Simpson, Mr Keith
Skidmore, Chris
Slaughter, Mr Andy
Smith, Angela
Smith, Henry
Smith, Julian
Soubry, Anna
Spellar, rh Mr John
Spelman, rh Mrs Caroline
Stanley, rh Sir John
Stewart, Iain
Streeter, Mr Gary
Stride, Mel
Stringer, Graham
Stuart, Ms Gisela
Stuart, Mr Graham
Sutcliffe, Mr Gerry
Swales, Ian
Swinson, Jo
Swire, rh Mr Hugo
Tami, Mark
Tapsell, rh Sir Peter
Thomas, Mr Gareth
Thornton, Mike
Thurso, rh John
Timms, rh Stephen
Tomlinson, Justin
Turner, Karl
Twigg, Derek
Uppal, Paul
Vaizey, Mr Edward
Vara, Mr Shailesh
Vaz, Valerie
Walker, Mr Robin
Wallace, Mr Ben
Walley, Joan
Webb, rh Steve
White, Chris
Whittaker, Craig
Willetts, rh Mr David
Williams, Mr Mark
Williams, Roger
Williamson, Chris
Williamson, Gavin
Willott, rh Jenny
Wilson, Phil
Wilson, Mr Rob
Winnick, Mr David
Winterton, rh Ms Rosie
Woodcock, John
Wright, David
Wright, Simon
Yeo, Mr Tim
Young, rh Sir George
NOES
Afriyie, Adam
Amess, Sir David
Bacon, Mr Richard
Baker, Steve
Baldwin, Harriett
Balls, rh Ed
Bebb, Guto
Bellingham, Mr Henry
Bingham, Andrew
Bone, Mr Peter
Bradley, Karen
Bray, Angie
Brazier, Mr Julian
Bridgen, Andrew
Browne, Mr Jeremy
Burrowes, Mr David
Carmichael, rh Mr Alistair
Carswell, Douglas
Chope, Mr Christopher
Coffey, Dr Thérèse
Crausby, Mr David
Davies, Glyn
Davies, Philip
Doyle-Price, Jackie
Dunne, Mr Philip
Evans, Mr Nigel
Field, Mark
Francois, rh Mr Mark
Fullbrook, Lorraine
Fuller, Richard
Gilbert, Stephen
Grayling, rh Chris
Gyimah, Mr Sam
Hands, rh Greg
Hart, Simon
Hinds, Damian
Hoban, Mr Mark
Hollobone, Mr Philip
Hood, Mr Jim
Hopkins, Kris
Howarth, Sir Gerald
Khan, rh Sadiq
Lee, Jessica
Leigh, Sir Edward
Loughton, Tim
Lumley, Karen
McVey, rh Esther
Menzies, Mark
Metcalfe, Stephen
Mosley, Stephen
Nuttall, Mr David
Paisley, Ian
Penrose, John
Percy, Andrew
Perry, Claire
Pincher, Christopher
Prisk, Mr Mark
Reckless, Mark
Rees-Mogg, Jacob
Robathan, rh Mr Andrew
Skinner, Mr Dennis
Spencer, Mr Mark
Sturdy, Julian
Swayne, rh Mr Desmond
Tredinnick, David
Turner, Mr Andrew
Tyrie, Mr Andrew
Vickers, Martin
Walker, Mr Charles
Walter, Mr Robert
Watkinson, Dame Angela
Wheeler, Heather
Wiggin, Bill
Wright, rh Jeremy
Question accordingly agreed to.
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