Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 26 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 May 2001. It was answered by Janet Anderson (Labour) on Wednesday, 2 May 2001 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Dept for Culture Media and Sport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make it his policy to include in the forthcoming Communication Bill a statutory duty on OFCOM to promote (a) take up of digital television and (b) early analogue switchover date. - Inc ref to 'A New Future for Communications'. (Holding answer 30 April 2001).

Answer: Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy to include in the forthcoming communication Bill a statutory duty on OFCOM to promote (a) take up of digital television and (b) early analogue switchover date. [159600] Janet Anderson: [holding answer 30 April 2001]: The Government are committed to encouraging the take-up of digital television and the early switchover from analogue to digital television so that the benefits of digital broadcasting can be universally available. Many responses to the communications White Paper, "A New Future for Communications", argued that we should place a specific duty on OFCOM to achieve this. We are currently considering them.

Secondary information