Written question asked by Anthony Steen (Conservative) on Wednesday, 3 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 November 2004. It was answered by Baroness Morris of Yardley (Labour) on Monday, 8 November 2004 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, when digital terrestrial television will be available throughout Totnes constituency, with particular reference to (a) Blackawton and (b) Halwell.

Answer: Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when digital terrestrial television will be available throughout Totnes constituency, with particular reference to (a) Blackawton and (b) Halwell. [196947] Estelle Morris: Due to the topography of the land and technical constraints on Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) transmissions from the Beacon Hill transmitter, digital terrestrial services are not predicted to be available to viewers in Blackawton and Halwell before Switchover. The Government are committed to ensuring that at Switchover everyone who can currently receive the main public service broadcasting channels on analogue will be able to do so on digital systems. No firm dates for Switchover have been set, but current discussions suggest that Switchover could start to happen as early as 2007 and be completed by 2012.

Secondary information