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The UK Government has just published the fourth annual monitoring Report on the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Key points in the report are: the total number of requests for information in 1997 was 2037 (the 1996 figure was 2033); 4.2% of requests were refused (the 1996 figure was 9.1%); and 94.8% of requests were processed within a 20 day period (up from the 1996 figure of 93%). The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster stressed, in announcing the Report, that there was no diminution of the Government's commitment to publish a draft Freedom of Information Bill later this...

At the beginning of June the Broadcasting Standards Commission published a revised Code of Guidance on Taste and Decency. Production of a code on standards of taste and decency is a statutory requirement placed upon the Commission by Parliament under sections 107 and 108 of the Broadcasting Act 1996. The first code on standards was published by the former Broadcasting Standards Council in 1989. The Commission has now re-written its code on taste and decency because it believes some current warnings are not straightforward enough. The code points out that programmes can cause particular offence...

The UK Wireless Telegraphy Act 1998 came into effect on 18 June 1998. This is an enabling act which permits regulations to be made for the pricing of the radio spectrum. These may take two forms; either fees determined by the Secretary of State reflecting the value of the spectrum or prices determined by the marketplace through auction. The Act permits the first type of fee to be set on the basis of principles other than recovery of cost and this may be applied to existing licences; a substantial increase in fees payable by mobile telecommunications operators is envisaged. The auction procedure...

A new Group of senior officials - called the Standing Committee on Competition in Communications - has been set up, involving the Independent Television Commission, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the Office of Telecommunications. The new mechanism will meet regularly to discuss current issues "which cross the traditional boundaries between regulators in the field of communications." The general aim is to set up machinery to assist the industry; minimise the regulatory burden; and "ensure that important issues do not fall through gaps". Specific project plans regarding particular issues will...

The Independent Television Commission has published its annual reviews of the performance of the regional Channel 3 companies and national channels 4 and 5, covering 1997. In relation to Channel 3, it notes the 'cautious and predictable nature' of programmes and criticises the preoccupation in peak factual programmes with crime, the emergency services and the paranormal. It also criticises the limited coverage of international issues in current affairs programmes. The Commission however welcomes the increased amount of documentaries, arts and children's drama in response to concerns it had expressed...