A method of Automatic Repeat request (ARQ) control in a High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) communication system. The method includes transmitting (300) control information from a first station to a second station; commencing receipt (312) of the control information at the second station; checking (502) whether the control information was received with error; and if so, generating (604) a negative acknowledgment (NACK) message for transmission to the first station. The control information error checking and acknowledgment message generating is performed at the second station by carrying out processing operations within radio interface layer 1 (UE layer 1).