Digital Broadcasting: Birmingham
Business, Innovation and Skills
Written answers and statements, 3 November 2009
Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Sparkbrook & Small Heath, Labour)
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of (a) households and (b) businesses in Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath constituency which will be liable for payment of the levy proposed in the .
Stephen Timms (Financial Secretary, HM Treasury; East Ham, Labour)
This Department has made no specific estimate of the number of (a) households and (b) businesses in Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath liable for payment of the levy proposed in the Digital Britain White Paper.
Ofcom estimates that there are 1,145,411 fixed lines in the West Midlands area. Ofcom do not have estimates for Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath. We recognise that those on the lowest incomes might have difficulty paying the fixed line levy and that is why we have confirmed that those on social telephony schemes will be exempt. The social telephony schemes are available to those on income support, income-based job seeker's allowance, employment support allowance (income rated) or guaranteed pensions credit.