In the 2008/2009 Parliamentary Session, Austin Mitchell, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Media Group, sponsored the following motion on local TV in the House of Commons:

EDM 1815, Local Television (06.07.09)

“That this House notes the statement in the Digital Britain report that the Government wishes `to see local TV thrive'; believes that truly local television would make a significant contribution to public service broadcasting and democratic engagement in local communities; acknowledges Ofcom's view that broadband provision complements traditional public service broadcasting platforms; further notes Ofcom's statement `that the potential for broadcasting spectrum to support local television should be kept open'; recognises the UK's commitment, as a signatory to the Council of Europe Declaration on Community Media, to the principle of allocating a sufficient number of frequencies to community media, both radio and television; and looks to the Government to implement the provisions in the Communications Act 2003 to ensure that a viable local television network is established ensuring all citizens have access to a dedicated channel on both Freeview and cable, providing local news, local discussion, community programming and local advertising.”

A full list of the 102 MPs who signed EDM 1815 in the 2008/2009 Parliamentary Session can be found here:

http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2008-09/1815