§ 17. Michael FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her estimate is of the switch-off date for analogue television; and if she will make a statement. [129568]
§ Tessa JowellThe criteria set for switchover are that: everyone who can currently get the main public service broadcasting channels in analogue form must be able to receive them on digital systems; switching to digital is an affordable option for the vast majority of people; and as a target indicator of affordability, 95 per cent. of consumers must have access to digital equipment. The objective of the Digital Television Action Plan Project is to ensure these criteria are met so that we can, if we choose, take the decision to proceed to full switchover by ordering the switching off by 2010 of analogue terrestrial transmissions.