HC Deb 06 December 2001 vol 376 cc502-3W
Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her estimate is of the(a) number and (b) percentage of (i) people and (ii) households in the United Kingdom that can receive (A) publicly and (B) commercially funded digital radio by any means; and what are the figures for reception at people's primary place of residence. [21385]

Dr. Howells

The Radio Authority advise thatBBC national digital radio services cover around 60 per cent. of households (estimated to be around 14,700,000 households in total). The BBC has just announced that it is resuming its roll-out of digital radio; BBC local digital radio services (which include the National Regions) cover between 40 and 50 per cent. of households (estimated to be between 9,800,000 and 12,300,000 households in total); Commercial national digital radio services cover over 80 per cent. of households (estimated to be around 19,600,000 households in total); Commercial local digital radio services cover between 40 and 50 per cent. of households (estimated to be between 9,800,000 and 12,300,000 households in total), and the Radio Authority continues to advertise new multiplexes, working towards a target of 80 per cent. in this phase.

There are no data for reception at a primary place of residence, or for the number or percentage of individuals (as opposed to households) who can receive digital radio.