Digital Switchover Help Scheme

Mr. Don Foster
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether those eligible for the targeted assistance scheme in relation to digital switchover are entitled to a digital box with the technical potential for later upgrading with a return path and IPTV slot.

James Purnell
The digital terrestrial set top boxes provided under the digital switchover help scheme will meet the scheme's core receiver requirements. These requirements do not at present require that the boxes have a return path but nor do they rule it out. The requirements will be kept under review throughout the process of switchover by an emerging technologies group, which will assess the case for changes, including the possible provision of a return path, based on their usability and cost-effectiveness, and will, where appropriate, recommend that DCMS and the BBC amend the requirements.