DIGITAL TELEVISION IN WALES

Early day motion 1551, tabled 20 July 2004 by Simon Thomas (Plaid Cymru). Signed by 13 members.

That this House notes the large take-up of digital television in Wales in comparison to the rest of the UK; notes that 56 per cent. of Welsh households currently have access to digital television despite the inherent difficulty in ensuring access to digital transmissions due to the topography of Wales; notes that currently only three quarters of households can receive digital television through their aerials and that this will not change until digital switchover; believes that public service broadcasting is an essential part of democracy and that democracy will be compromised if decisions on when areas conduct switchover lies with unelected quangos; is concerned that if the switchover process is based solely on market forces, rural areas will lose out as companies will instal transmitters where it is easiest; believes that in areas where the signal cannot reach, people will have to pay for digital satellite; believes that Wales should therefore be among the first areas to switchover as this will provide an opportunity to test the technology in a challenging environment making it easier for the technology to be transferred elsewhere in the UK; and calls on the Government to set a definite timetable for this to happen.

Signatures by party: Labour 6, Plaid Cymru 3, Conservative 2, Liberal Democrat 2.