To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the cost to individuals in Westmorland and Lonsdale arising from the need to purchase new equipment to enable them to receive the full range of television stations after switchover to digital in 2008. (141572)

On 8 November 2005, Ofcom published research by the Generics Group which examined the cost and power consumption implications of digital switchover for UK households. The report estimates that for those households that incur a cost as a result of switchover, the actual cost will depend on the equipment requiring conversion and the level of voluntary conversion carried out before switchover. Typical non-voluntary costs for TV and recorders in households containing an average collection of reception equipment are therefore estimated to range from £26 to £153.