Switchover Help Scheme Too Late For Whitehaven

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 15th Mar 2007

Commenting on today's announcement of 17th October 2007 as the date for the first stage of digital switchover in Whitehaven, Liberal Democrat Culture Spokesman Paul Holmes MP said:

"Whitehaven should have been a useful test case for the switchover scheme in the rest of the country but due to Government delays the help scheme for vulnerable groups is unlikely to be in place in time. There is a danger that people in Whitehaven will lose out as the criteria for help has not been made clear, because the Digital Switchover Bill is yet to be passed.

People who move to Whitehaven after switchover may also not receive any help.

I will be seeking assurances that help will reach all the elderly, disabled or low incomes households who need it, when they need it.

We still don't know how much the Whitehaven switchover will cost. The Government, not the licence fee payer, should pay for those who need assistance in the switch to digital."