Written question asked by David TC Davies (Conservative) on Wednesday, 11 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 16 January 2006. It was answered by James Purnell (Labour) on Thursday, 19 January 2006 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Digital Television (Wales)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what percentage of television viewers in (a) Monmouthshire and (b) Wales have access to freeview signals; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that freeview access will be available in each area immediately following analogue switch-off;

Answer: Digital Switchover will enable digital terrestrial coverage to match the current 98.5 per cent. analogue level. Switchover for the HTV Wales region will happen in the second half of 2009.Freeview signals are currently available to an estimated 35.7 per cent. of households in the Monmouth constituency. No equivalent figures are available for counties, although for Wales as a whole, 57 per cent. of households are predicted to be in areas served by the full range of digital terrestrial services.The Government have confirmed the regional timetable for the switchover to digital television and announced details of a support scheme to help the most vulnerable households to make the switch.Digital UK, an independent, not-for-profit company set up by the broadcasters, commercial multiplex operators and involving the supply chain digital switchover will co-ordinate the implementation of digital switchover and ensure that consumers have timely and accurate information about the switch.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 42451; 441 c1445-6W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Access Digital broadcasting Wales Television Monmouth Monmouthshire
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk