HC Deb 07 February 2001 vol 362 c539W
Mr. Simon Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the take-up rate is of(a) terrestrial digital service and (b) satellite digital service in (i) Wales and (ii) England. [148298]

Janet Anderson

From the figures declared by the service providers, we estimate that around 18 per cent. of households in the United Kingdom with a television use a digital satellite service and 4 per cent. use a digital terrestrial television service. We do not have a breakdown of take-up figures by country.

Mr. Simon Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the(a) Welsh and (b) English population has access to (i) terrestrial digital service and (ii) satellite digital service. [148299]

Janet Anderson

The Independent Television Commission estimate that core coverage of digital terrestrial television (those households able to receive all six multiplexes) is(a) 42 per cent. in Wales and (b) 55 per cent. in England. The figures are up to 6 per cent. higher for access to BBC services, Channels 3, 4 and 5 and S4C. The latest figures indicate that between 96 per cent. and 98 per cent. of households in the United Kingdom are able to receive digital satellite services. We do not have a breakdown of the figures by country.