§ Mr. Peter AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will list those areas of the United Kingdom which are unable to receive the full subscription services offered by ON digital through the digital terrestrial network; [60968]
(2) if he will list the percentage of households which will be unable to receive digital terrestrial channels in the counties of (a) Northumberland and (b) Cumbria; [60969]
(3) if he will list those areas of the United Kingdom which are unable to receive the full range of free-to-air digital terrestrial channels. [60967]
§ Janet Anderson[holding answer 30 November 1998]: The launch phase of digital terrestrial television has been jointly planned by the BBC and Independent Television Commission so that the 81 transmitters used will reach around 90 per cent. of the UK population by the end of 1999, though the coverage of all six multiplexes will vary and in some cases be less. Extending digital services beyond the reach of the first 81 digital terrestrial transmitters was one of the issues raised in our consultation paper "Television: the Digital Future" the responses to which are currently being considered.
I understand that digital terrestrial television services will reach Cumbria and Northumberland from the Caldbeck, Chatton, Pontop Pike, Fenham, Selkirk and Lancaster transmitters. Transmissions from Pontop Pike have already commenced and the remainder will become operational during 1999. The BBC and ITC have produced a CD-Rom containing coverage predictions for each multiplex for each transmitter site in the UK. Copies of the CD-Rom have already been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.