HC Deb 16 January 2001 vol 361 cc135-6W
Mr. Colman

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to compel United Kingdom manufacturers of television sets to include a tuner that can receive digital signals in every new television set. [145775]

Janet Anderson

The Government have no such plans, which could be contrary to our international commitments unless it is part of a European agreement. However, the proposal for the Directive on universal service and users rights relating to electronic communications networks and services stipulates in its annexe VI that all the television sets sold in Europe should have at least one open interface socket permitting the connection of a digital receiver.