§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects digital radio to reach(a) 90 per cent., (b) 95 per cent. and (c) 100 per cent. of the UK population. [118194]
§ Janet AndersonI understand from the BBC and the Radio Authority estimates, that national BBC services and the commercial services broadcast by Digital One each presently reach over 60 per cent. of the UK population. I also understand from the Radio Authority that Digital One plans to extend its services to over 85 per cent. over the next two years. Digital radio is at an early stage and plans for the further expansion of the national networks have yet to be developed.