WARRINGTON South MP Andy Carter has expressed concerns over BBC plans to launch new radio stations.

Mr Carter, who worked in radio before his political career, spoke in Parliament today, Thursday, about the BBC plans announced earlier this month.

They want to launch new stations which commercial radio broadcasters say mimic stations they already run.

The Conservative MP raised concerns over what he described as BBC plans to "launch four new national music radio stations and to relaunch an existing station, 5 Live Sports Extra".

He said: "To my mind, they are a direct imitation of commercial broadcasters' innovation. And the time and resource the BBC are investing could be better spent in reversing the cuts to BBC local radio, a source of distinctive public service content."

Culture minister Julia Lopez said: "In relation to the issue that he speaks of on the launch of new radio services, I have spoken to the director general about this, and he is also very very aware of the strength of feeling in this House about the local radio proposals.

"The midterm review does say that the BBC should engage much more closely with the market ahead of the launch of any new stations, but there is also powers Ofcom has to make a judgement on this before a new station is launched."