To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the results of the digital switchover trial in Bolton; what the effect of switchover was on (a) individuals on low incomes and (b) the elderly; how much switchover cost per (i) household and (ii) vulnerable household; and if she will make a statement. (79572)

The purpose of the trial was to test the process for supporting elderly and severely disabled consumers through switchover. The majority of people in the digital television trial thought switching over was easy and liked watching digital television.

The trial also highlighted the importance of support from family and friends in installing and using the equipment and the need to give older and disabled people time to adapt to using new television equipment.

The full Bolton trial report was published in May; copies are available in both Houses and at www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk. We are considering the findings from the Bolton trial and other research. This will help to inform work on the detailed design and costs of the digital switchover assistance schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Government has allocated for support to (a) individuals on low incomes and (b) the elderly (i) to purchase equipment and (ii) to obtain help with installation in preparation for the switch to digital television in each year up to 2012; and if she will make a statement. (79573)

The costs of the digital switchover assistance scheme are being assessed as part of work to determine the licence fee settlement for the new Charter period. This work will draw upon a variety of sources including outputs from the Bolton Digital television trial which considered the needs of the elderly and disabled groups who will be entitled to help from the assistance scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure that the small slave transmitter on ordinance survey reference SX802596, at the junction with the Ashprington turn-off at Totnes Hill, will be converted from analogue to digital transmission; and if she will make a statement. (77517)

I understand that there is no record of a transmitter sited at OS reference SX802596, either for television transmission or telecommunications. However the Totnes television relay transmitter is situated at reference SX805594, which is very close to the above location.

During switchover, which takes place in the Westcountry region in 2009, all transmitters (including the Totnes relay) will be converted for digital transmission. After switchover, UK digital terrestrial television coverage will match the current analogue coverage of 98.5 per cent.