HC Deb 19 April 2004 vol 420 cc239-40W
Mr. David Stewart

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on public broadcasting provision to remote rural locations following conversion to full digital television broadcasting. [166155]

Tessa Jowell

The Government's policy for digital switchover is that everyone, including those in rural areas, who can currently get the public service broadcasting channels in analogue form, must continue to receive them on digital systems when analogue is switched off.

David Hamilton

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of accessibility to digital television in(a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland. [165677]

Funds spent on library premises
£
1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02
Funds spent on library premises
Inner London 5,290,670 6,297,018 6,430,335 6,134,076 6,993,679
Outer London 9,703,422 8,750,414 8,806,541 8,882,198 9,666,024
Greater London 16,459,173 16,229,149 16,347,315 16,173,594 17,821,923

Estelle Morris

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Mr. Peter Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on plans to upgrade transmitters in Dumfries and Galloway to receive digital television services. [165970]

Estelle Morris

Until analogue signals are switched off there will be no frequencies available to broadcast digital television services from transmitters in Dumfries and Galloway without causing interference to viewers' existing analogue signals. The Digital TV Action plan provides the route map to achieve digital switchover, which could be completed between 2006 and 2010 and we are working closely with stakeholders on the detailed plans.

Mr. Peter Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the population of Dumfries and Galloway are able to receive Freeview digital television services. [165971]

Estelle Morris

According to the BBC's coverage prediction database, around 20,000, or 31 per cent. of households in Dumfries and Galloway have access to Freeview at this time