New Clause 2
Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Bill
4:45 pm
Shaun Woodward (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Media & Tourism), Department for Culture, Media & Sport; St Helens South, Labour)
It would be really helpful if the hon. Gentleman could give me that person’s postcodes. However, he makes a sensible point, which I should like to review and write to him about. Obviously there will instances in which people will move house and might even qualify for assistance four times over. I do not want to speak out of turn, but my instinct is that the purpose of the Bill is to enable people who genuinely need help to receive it, not to leave a scheme open for abuse. He is clearly not suggesting that people who might want to abuse the system should benefit, but equally there may be absolutely understandable situations—for example, a family break up—where such things could occur. Yes, flexibility must be built into the system but these are matters that we have to work out practically; our preparations in Whitehaven are throwing up a number of such issues.
It is important to remind hon. Members that Whitehaven is not a pilot, because there is no going back. For people in Whitehaven, it is the beginning of switchover. We are fully committed to ensuring that it works impeccably. That is why we want the Bill to commence as soon as possible so that we can deliver its benefits to Whitehaven. Lessons will be learned from Whitehaven, and they may touch on the questions that the hon. Member for Bath raised. We want to enter into the best spirit of co-operation with all hon. Members to ensure that we learn those lessons.
My instinctive answer to the hon. Gentleman’s question is yes, but I want to give his question full consideration. I will be happy to write to him about it, or to meet him or other hon. Members to discuss the matter.