HL Deb 14 January 2002 vol 630 cc138-9WA
Baroness Anelay of St Johns

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the viability of the digital terrestrial platform is fundamental to their strategy set out in their Digital Action Plan; and, if it is not, whether they will publish their assessment of how other platforms alone can deliver public policy goals. [HL2176]

Baroness Blackstone

The availability of digital terrestrial television is a key element of the Digital Television Action Plan published on 20 December. In taking forward the plan, the Government will not favour any one platform, equipment or service. The purpose of the action plan is to develop the strategy for achieving the Government's policy for the switch over to digital television.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish their targets for the test of availability and accessibility of digital television which must be reached before analogue switch-off takes place, as percentages of defined regions, local areas and different social groups. [HL2177]

Baroness Blackstone

The Government have set targets for availability and accessibility of digital services only for the whole of the UK. We are considering the Viewers' Panel recommendation that the test criteria for digital switchover should not be based solely on national averages and that targets should also be set for particular regions and social groups to prevent social exclusion.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What costs they take into account when assessing the affordability to individuals of the switchover from analogue to digital television. [HL2178]

Baroness Blackstone

When assessing the affordability of digital equipment, the Government will take into account the cost of digital receivers; the cost of installation; and the availability of cheap and simple digital receivers to convert existing analogue sets to receive free-to-air services digitally. We will also take into account the comments and recommendations on affordability to individuals made by the Viewers' Panel in its report to Government:Digital Decisions: Viewer Choice and Digital Television, published on 28 December, copies of which I am placing in the Libraries of both Houses.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to supplement their digtaltv.culture website with other more traditional sources of information so that such information may be accessed by those groups, such as elderly people and families on low income, who do not have Internet access in their own homes. [HL2179]

Baroness Blackstone

As part of the Government's Digital Television Action Plan, published on 20 December, the Market Preparation Group will develop and implement a strategic marketing and communication plan to prepare consumers for the switchover to digital. A key element of any information campaign will be the wide dissemination of information in ways designed to reach consumers whether or not they have Internet access in their homes.

On 18 December, in response to the condition set by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in granting approval for new BBC services, the BBC published its plan for the promotion of digital services.