§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what mechanisms the Government will implement to ensure that(a) consumers on low incomes, (b) consumers who live in rural areas and (c) other consumers who live in areas which cannot presently receive digital terrestrial television will continue to have access to television services after analogue switch-off. [54617]
§ Dr. HowellsAnalogue signals will not be turned off before two conditions are met
everyone who currently receives free-to-air channels is able, after switchover, to receive the same channels digitally, including in remote and rural areas, andswitching to digital must be an affordable option, within the reach of people on low and fixed incomes. As a key measure of affordability, 95 per cent. of consumers must have access to digital equipment before switchover is completed.