Primary Colour:
Primary Text:
Secondary Colour:
Secondary Text:
Tertiary Colour:
Tertiary Text:
Colour Picker
Preview
FeaturesTypographyTutorials
Module Title
Home
Module Title

This block of text is used as an example for the colour chooser module on this web site. This paragraph is functionally unimportant, and can safely be ignored.

Module Title
Module Title
Instructions

Select a predefined style from the drop-down or choose your own colours via the handy colour-chooser. When you are satisfied with your selection, click the "Apply Colours" button below to store your selection in a cookie.

Apply Colours

Holyrood opinion poll

With the publication of the interim Calman Report, do you think –
 
Home
Lib Dem calls for digital switchover assurance Print E-mail
Thursday, 17 May 2007

Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland Alistair Carmichael has called for the Westminster government to ensure that people in the isles don’t lose out when the digital switchover occurs.

The analogue signal for the North of Scotland is due to be switched off in the first half of 2010, meaning that people will only be able to get television services with either a digital set-top box or satellite system.

Carmichael secured a parliamentary debate on the matter, and used the opportunity to press the minister on the degree of digital coverage in the isles, the assistance available for vulnerable groups and the type of service local people will be able to access. He also raised concerns that people entitled to help with switchover, and who prepare now, will not have the costs involved reimbursed, as assistance will only be available for nine months.

He said: “I am concerned that the period during which people will be able to apply for assistance might be too short. Help will be provided only for the eight months prior to the date of switchover and for one month afterwards, which seems to be a very tight time frame.

“In a written parliamentary answer to me, the Minister stated that 649,000 Scottish households would be entitled to assistance. If all those households applied for help, a small army would be needed to ensure that assistance is provided in the nine months in which it is available. As things stand, I do not see such an army in place.”

Carmichael also sought assurance that the planned assistance would take into account local challenges.

“There are 32 islands in my constituency, some of which are very small. Those circumstances present particular challenges. Will the Minister ensure that when the nuts and bolts of the scheme are being devised, it will have sufficient flexibility built in to ensure that those communities can be catered for?”

In his response, Shaun Woodward, the minister responsible for digital switchover, gave an assurance that these issues would be taken into account.
No one has commented on this article.
The author or administrator has closed this item for comments.


Related news items:
 
[ Back ]

Featured sites

Site news...


This website has been tested as working under Firefox, and Internet Explorer 6 and 7.  Although the website will work in any of these browsers, users of Internet Explorer may experience some visual distortion due to the browser lacking support for widely accepted open standards.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, and will endeavour to ensure that the site will deliver its content irrelevant of browser choice. 

 We strongly encourage users to install the Firefox web browser, as it is both standards-compliant and free software.  

Please click here to visit the Firefox home page.


 
Visitors: 6523495
We have 1 guest online