§ Mr. AllenTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what his Department is doing to encourage the development by manufacturers of radio sets capable of receiving the BBC's DAB broadcasts, to be launched in 1995; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. TaylorOn 16 February 1993,Official Report, column 134, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced to the House the setting up of a national forum to co-ordinate and promote the plans for the introduction of DAB in the UK. Participants of the forum included broadcasters, equipment manufacturers, retailers, service providers and other interested parties. 936W They have made considerable progress over the intervening months.
One of the forum's working groups is concerned with consumer equipment for receiving DAB broadcasts. It currently numbers all of the major UK market players, including far Eastern inward investors, in its membership.
At least five of these have indicated their intentions to manufacture products in the UK once DAB chipsets become available. Another far eastern company that does not currently manufacturer in the UK has expressed a desire to develop a DAB receiver in the UK.
At the present time, however, there is a lack of DAB chipsets in commercial quantities and at commercial prices. Some UK companies have formed a club to develop a UK source of DAB chipsets to alleviate this.
Officials in my Department are giving strong encouragement to these activities.