Vol. 470 No. 7
261 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications when he appointed a second set of consultants in relation to the television deflector scheme further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 215 and 216 of 8 October 1996; the aspects, if any, of television retransmission they are examining which the independent technical consultants are not; and the anticipated date of the report by these consultants. [19931/96]
I have not appointed a second set of consultants to examine any aspect of the deflector issue. The only consultancy that is in place on this subject is the one referred to in my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 215 and 216 of 8 October last.
I am always open to proposals whereby evolving technology can make a contribution to the resolution of current limitations on the use of spectrum. The contacts I had with consultants on behalf of a US based firm are part of this open stance.
