TELEVISION RECEPTION IN WALES

That this House welcomes the digital revolution and the increased access to information and choice which digital switchover will bring to 98.5 per cent. of the UK population; notes that Wales will be one of the first to switch off its analogue transmitters in 2009; is deeply concerned that 1.5 per cent. of the UK population and 36,000 households in Wales have either poor quality television reception or no television reception at all; further notes that lack of access to television signals coincides geographically with low wage areas in rural and deep rural communities and the most Welsh-speaking areas; urges the Government to use the unique opportunity of digital switchover to secure universal access to television reception in Wales and further afield; and calls on the Government to make an early announcement on the support available under the Digital Switchover Assistance Scheme.