§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the areas of Scotland which may face difficulties receiving digital television transmissions(a) before 2006 and (b) before 2010. [99655]
§ Janet AndersonThe digital terrestrial transmission plan for the UK presently comprises 81 transmitter sites. Transmissions from the fourteen digital terrestrial transmitter sites located in Scotland, together with transmissions from Caldbeck in the north of England, will deliver digital terrestrial television services to about 90–95 per cent. of the Scottish population. Maps showing the predicted coverage from each of these transmitter sites have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses on CD-ROM.
The BBC and ITC, together with the transmission providers Crown Castle and NTL, are now considering the further development of digital television coverage, in consultation with the digital broadcasters and Government. The aim is to ensure that at least 99.4 per cent. of the UK population can receive digital television signals, through a variety of delivery mechanisms. Analogue switch-over will not take place until this and other tests are met, for which the Government has set a target timetable of 2006–10. The ITC and BBC's transmission plans are not yet sufficiently advanced to determine if there will be any areas in Scotland where the reception of digital television might remain difficult at 2006 or 2010.