§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of the viability of his Department's timetable for the switching off of analogue television transmitters. [121486]
§ Janet AndersonWe will be making regular assessments of the estimated timescale for the switch-over from analogue to digital transmission in the formal two-yearly reviews which I announced last autumn. The first of these reviews will be in autumn 2001. They will measure progress against the key tests of availability of digital services; affordability; and take-up of digital equipment. The Viewers' Panel, which we are setting up, will provide advice at each review on the extent of progress towards digital television from the viewers' point of view.