PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
PROPOSED CLOSURE OF RADIO 5 (11 July 1993)

That this House recognises the important service that Radio 5 provides for some five million listeners each week and regrets the proposal to replace it with a news network depriving them of many sporting events, dramas and other programmes for children and young people; further believes that, whereas the BBC has a duty to provide an adequate comprehensive news service, this should not be achieved at the expense of the only national sports network available in the whole of the United Kingdom which has increased its coverage threefold in the last three years; urges the governors and the Director General of the BBC to abandon any plans they might have which could particularly jeopardise the coverage of major sporting events which have a massive following throughout the United Kingdom and beyond; and believes it is the duty of the BBC to guarantee and maintain these important aspects of the nation's culture.

Sponsored by:
Lord Pendry (Labour)