Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Scotland – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 28 November 2007.
David Cairns
Minister of State, Scotland Office
11:30,
28 November 2007
I have some sympathy with my hon. Friend's point, but he must consider this: if we were to take money out of the BBC's budget as he suggests, it would be difficult for it to meet the challenging timetable that we have for digital switchover. I cannot therefore offer him any comfort in that regard. What matters is that we proceed as quickly as we can with switchover, as is happening throughout the rest of the world. We need particularly to ensure that older and more vulnerable people are given the help and support that they need—I know that he has been campaigning on this issue—and that remains the Government's top priority.