To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 15 September 2008, Official Report, column 2020W, on the Digital Switchover Help Scheme: Borders Regions, how many people have now been identified as eligible for assistance under the scheme in the area covered by the Selkirk television transmitter and its related relays on the grounds that they are (a) over 75 years old, (b) in receipt of (i) disability living allowance, (ii) attendance allowance and (iii) constant attendance allowance and (c) registered blind or partially sighted; what the overall percentage take-up of eligible people has been to date; and how many people have opted for (A) the default option of Sky, (B) a Freeview digital box, (C) a Freeview playback digital television recorder, (D) a new television with digital built-in, (E) Freesat and (F) Top Up TV. (228568)

[holding answer 22 October 2008]: A total of 16,618 people in the area covered by Selkirk television transmitter and its related relays are currently identified as eligible for the switchover help scheme. The total of eligible people has been adjusted in the light of information from Television Licensing, since possession of a TV licence is a condition of eligibility. All potentially eligible people, including those without a TV licence or not yet confirmed to have one, have now been contacted by the help scheme.

Of those currently eligible, (a) 10,576 people are eligible on the grounds that they are aged 75 years or over, (b) 5,804 are under 75 and eligible on grounds that they receive a disability benefit, and (c) 238 people who do not fit either of these categories are eligible on the grounds that they are registered blind or partially sighted.

A breakdown of numbers in receipt of each disability allowance is not available as this information is not needed for the purposes of the scheme.

The number of people who have opted into the help scheme now stands at 2,758 people, or 16.6 per cent. of the eligible total. 7,274 or 43.8 per cent. of the total have responded. Of those that have opted in, 2,178 have made a choice of option and 580 have yet to choose. Of those that have made a choice, 59 per cent. have chosen the standard offer of a Sky satellite system, 39 per cent. have chosen a Freeview terrestrial set top box or upgrade, and the remainder have chosen freesat from ITV and BBC or Top Up TV.