§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when Freeview digital television services will be available throughout the(a) Benfleet, (b) Hadleigh and (c) Canvey Island areas. [158125]
§ Estelle MorrisOfcom inform us that most postcodes in Benfleet, Hadleigh and Canvey Island can currently receive Freeview digital television services from the Bluebell Hill transmitter. However many households in these areas will not be tuned into this transmitter as it is located in a different ITV region.
Other transmitters in the area do not emit sufficient power to offer a full range of services and in order to protect existing analogue services against interference, the signal strength cannot be increased until digital switchover.
The Government are committed to ensuring that all households who can currently receive analogue signals will be able to receive digital television when switchover takes place.
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Percentage Area 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 England 54.84 73.27 57.39 76 77.45 75.89 72.35 71.78 65.88 60.08 Scotland 38.23 9.69 9.33 10.05 8.76 7.62 7.29 9.67 9.73 11.95 Wales 6.93 8.9 2.54 5.83 5.31 5.18 4.58 4.19 5.34 5.25 N. Ireland 0 1.91 2.14 5.03 4.2 3.38 2.92 2.46 2.63 4.24 Viewers in Essex wishing to view all of the Freeview digital services are advised to check their postcode on the Digital Television Group's website:www.dtg.org.uk http://www.dtg.org.uk and if necessary, contact a reputable aerial installer about carrying out an aerial check. We suggest they contact the Confederation of Aerial Industries Ltd. (CAI) at Fulton House Business Centre, Fulton Road, Wembley Park, Middlesex HA9 OTF, telephone: 020 8902 8998.