Lord Rogan has welcomed confirmation from a UK Government Minister that Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle will not be affected by plans to reduce BBC local radio output.
Last month the corporation announced that programming would be cut on local stations.
39 networks in England will keep their current schedule from 6am to 2pm, but after that shows will be shared.
Programme sharing will result in the loss of 48 jobs, and 139 roles will be lost in audio teams.
The future of Northern Ireland’s BBC stations was not mentioned in the announcement, prompting the Ulster Unionist peer to table a Parliamentary Question asking what discussions the Government had held with the BBC about cuts to local radio services and whether Radio Ulster or Radio Foyle would be affected.
In his reply, Arts Minister Lord Parkinson said the Government was “disappointed by the extent of the BBC’s proposed changes to local radio services.”
He said: “We will be raising this issue with the BBC and wait to hear more from the BBC on how it expects these changes to affect local communities, including the provision of local news and media plurality.”
But he added: “The BBC’s recent announcement will only affect the BBC’s local radio services in England. There should be no impact on BBC Radio Ulster or BBC Radio Foyle.”
Lord Rogan said the Minister’s reply had come as “a great relief.”
Lord Rogan
He commented: “I listen to Radio Ulster every day, including when I am in London, and often tune into Radio Foyle to hear what is going on in the North-West.
“Their quality is on a different level in comparison with BBC local radio elsewhere in the UK.
“I am sorry that stations in England are facing cuts because they also provide a valued service for their listeners. I hope there can be a rethink.
“However, everyone at Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle should be incredibly proud of what they do.
“I hope they are still broadcasting many years from now.”