§ Mr. Hill
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many pirate radio stations he knows to be currently broadcasting; how many prosecutions there have been for pirate radio broadcasting in the last year; how many have been successful; and what steps he is taking to increase the rate of detection.
§ Mr. Alexander Fletcher
Since 1 January this year 30 pirate radio stations have been heard broadcasting. In20W 1983, 40 people were prosecuted under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 for illegal radio broadcasting; all of the prosecutions were successful. We will continue to give a high degree of priority to the tracing and prosecution of pirate radio operators.