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)
I am sure that hon. Members found some content in the hon. Gentleman’s intervention. It seemed to me that he was a little exercised about my remarks I made about writing to hon. Members, but that is a sensible way to proceed. The full details have not been worked out simply because we have not done the first region yet, so we must recognise that we will learn as we go along. In so far as we can anticipate problems, we shall do so.
My objection to the hon. Gentleman’s point about Whitehaven was the idea that the Government are treating it as an experiment and that the constituents of my hon. Friend the Member for Copeland are being treated as guinea pigs. That is simply not the case. They will be the first people to benefit from switchover and are, quite rightly, receiving a great deal of help to ensure that it is a success. Lessons will arise from that work and it is perfectly proper that we all learn from them. However, it is absolutely in no shape or form an experiment. It is the beginning of the roll-out of digital switchover with the full commitment of the Government, Digital UK and all those involved in it. My concern is that my hon. Friend’s constituents do not have any sense whatever that they are an experiment. They are not. I was at pains to make that clear. I am sorry if that upset the hon. Gentleman and led to his somewhat lengthy intervention.
The hon. Gentleman referred to my comments about film. I do not think that you, Mr. Conway, were the Chairman of that Committee—