To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what evidence was submitted to his Department to inform the Digital Working Group interim report published in June 2008. (216522)

None. The Digital Radio Working Group is an independent body which sought and took account of a wide range of information in developing its interim report. I look forward to seeing its final report by the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) the DAB+ system, (b) the DMB system and (c) the DVB-H system of digital radio transmission. (216535)

[holding answer 7 July 2008]: As part of its remit, the independent Digital Radio Working Group which we have established has considered these and other technologies.

The Group’s interim report, published on 23 June, concluded that DAB is the most practical route to digital migration in the UK, but that the aim should be for all future radio receivers to be capable of receiving analogue, DAB and other variants of the Eureka 147 family. I look forward to seeing the final report towards the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has made at EU level on harmonisation in digital radio technology. (216521)

I have made no such representations. However, my officials have discussed the need for harmonised digital technology informally with the Commission and member states. We have recently raised the issue in the EU Communications Committee Broadcasting Issues Sub Group and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Ofcom have jointly written to WorldDMB, the organisation responsible for co-ordinating the implementation of Eureka 147 technologies, which has agreed to take forward the question of harmonised receiver profiles. This is in line with the interim recommendations of the Digital Radio Working Group.