§ David HamiltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure choice of access for digital broadcasting services in Scotland. [58548]
§ Dr. HowellsThe draft Communications Bill and associated documents (Cm 5508, published on 7 May) set out a proposed framework for the regulation of communications, which is intended to broaden choice of and access to modern communications technologies, and to make markets work better, in Scotland a well as in the rest of the United Kingdom.
§ David HamiltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what key tasks she has set for her Department for improving access to digital television; and if she will make a statement. [58549]
1009W
§ Dr. HowellsThe Digital Television Action Plan, posted on www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk and agreed by stakeholders, sets out a framework of actions to be taken by Government and industry, in partnership, to enable the take-up of digital television and achieve the tests of accessibility, availability and affordability, first announced in September 1999.
§ David HamiltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many new digital television installations there were in 2001; and if she will make a statement. [58550]
§ Dr. HowellsWe estimate that 2,378,962 new digital television installations were carried out in 2001. This estimate is based on information on subscriber figures from platform operators.
31 December 2000 31 December 2001 Sky Digital 4,669,000 5,716,000 ITV Digital 1,000,000 1,263,000 Digital Cable 908,364 1,977,326 NTL 530,700 1,253,500 Telewest 377,664 723,826