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Digital Economy Bill [HL]

My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Fowler and the noble Lords, Lord Gordon and Lord Puttnam, for their contributions. I respect and appreciate their views. These things are not easy, as the noble Lord, Lord Puttnam, acknowledged. Noble Lords were generous to appreciate our preference for a commercially viable solution. I am therefore not at all surprised at the Government’s response. Indeed, I am pleased that the Minister at least acknowledges the ambition to wean the IFNCs eventually off public money. Even so, I respectfully say that it does not bode well for the Exchequer in what will be very difficult times—or, for that matter, for the future of regional and local news—but I recognise that discretion is the better part of valour, so for this evening I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 136 withdrawn. Clause 30 : Digital switchover Amendment 137 Clause 30 : Digital switchover Amendment 137 Moved by