Written question asked by Linda Gilroy (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 January 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 January 2001. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Monday, 22 January 2001 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that new televisions which are described as digital can receive digital communications.

Answer: Mrs. Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that new televisions which are described as digital can receive digital communications. [145077] Dr. Howells: I have been asked to reply. I am concerned that consumers may not be being given sufficiently clear information about what new televisions are, or are not, able to receive digital services. My Department is working with industry to develop a clear labelling system for digital televisions and is in touch with the Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Food and Trading Standards (LACOTS) about the nature and extent of consumer problems in this area. The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 already prohibits false or misleading descriptions of products. It would therefore be an offence to describe a television set falsely, and if there are instances where traders are misdescribing analogue sets as digital, I would urge consumers to bring them to the attention of their local authority trading standards department.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 361 c447W;361 c448W; 145077
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Consumers Digital broadcasting Consumer information Labelling Protection Television Trade descriptions
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk