§ Mr. RuffleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assistance will be provided to those who are unable to take up digital television in Suffolk on the grounds of(a) affordability, (b) access and (c) reception. [50584]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Digital Television Action Plan, posted on www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk and agreed by stakeholders, sets out a framework of actions to be taken by Government and industry, in partnership, to enable the take-up of digital television and achieve the tests of accessibility, availability and affordability announced in September 1999. The Government are committed to ensuring that terrestrial analogue broadcasting signals are maintained until those tests are achieved.
§ Linda GilroyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to maintain diversity in the ownership and provision of digital television services. [49794]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 15 April 2002]: The Independent Television Commission is responsible for licensing commercial digital television services in the UK. One specific criterion to which the commission must have regard when awarding the multiplex licence is the capacity of the digital programme services proposed to appeal to a variety of tastes and interests. The Government's consultation paper on media ownership proposed that specific limits should not be placed on the ownership of digital services. Competition law should ensure that there is effective competition between digital platforms and the Government will continue to act to ensure open access to gateways on these markets.