To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much funding his Department has allocated to each ITV region under the Digital Switchover Help Scheme to date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much funding his Department has allocated to each ITV region under the Digital Switchover Help Scheme to date.

Letter dated 18/03/2010 from Ben Bradshaw MP to Sir Michael Lyons (Chairman, BBC Trust) regarding repaying the underspend for the digital switchover help scheme. 2 p.

Letter dated 18/03/2010 from Ben Bradshaw MP to Sir Michael Lyons (Chairman, BBC Trust) regarding repaying the underspend for the digital switchover help scheme. 2 p.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many enquiries from households in Gordon constituency have been received by the Digital UK Help Scheme; and how many of those households were eligible to receive the digital conversion service free of charge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many enquiries from households in Gordon constituency have been received by the Digital UK Help Scheme; and how many of those households were eligible to receive the digital conversion service free of charge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department has taken to ensure that those in vulnerable groups will be eligible for the scheme to provide free digital equipment during the digital switchover.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department has taken to ensure that those in vulnerable groups will be eligible for the scheme to provide free digital equipment during the digital switchover.

Digital Economy Bill (HL). Lords Committee stage sixth day. Clauses 19 to 30 agreed to, with clauses 19, 20, 21 and 28 agreed to as amended.

Digital Economy Bill (HL). Lords Committee stage sixth day. Clauses 19 to 30 agreed to, with clauses 19, 20, 21 and 28 agreed to as amended.

231: Clause 21, page 23, leave out lines 5 to 8

231: Clause 21, page 23, leave out lines 5 to 8

My Lords, again, these are probing amendments to clarify Channel 4’s updated remit with regard to film. Clause 21 establishes that Channel 4 must participate in distributing films by means of electronic communications networks. Does this mean that it is compulsory for Channel 4 to invest in streaming films over...

My Lords, again, these are probing amendments to clarify Channel 4’s updated remit with regard to film. Clause 21 establishes that Channel 4 must participate in distributing films by means of electronic communications networks. Does this mean that it is compulsory for Channel 4 to invest in streaming films over...

My Lords, one of the most comfortable factors about speaking for the Government at the Dispatch Box is that one always knows that there will be some noble Lord who knows a great deal more about the issues than one does oneself, speaks with greater authority and is likely to...

My Lords, one of the most comfortable factors about speaking for the Government at the Dispatch Box is that one always knows that there will be some noble Lord who knows a great deal more about the issues than one does oneself, speaks with greater authority and is likely to...

I thank the noble Lord for his remarks and the noble Lord, Lord Puttnam, for his reassurance that there will be no downgrading. This was a probing amendment. It was not there for any other purpose. There was just one small inconsistency by the Minister. If it is correct to...

I thank the noble Lord for his remarks and the noble Lord, Lord Puttnam, for his reassurance that there will be no downgrading. This was a probing amendment. It was not there for any other purpose. There was just one small inconsistency by the Minister. If it is correct to...

The noble Baroness is right that that is how Channel 4 operates, but I am trying to emphasise that we are not about the business of changing Channel 4’s position at all. I want to meet the anxiety on the Lib Dem Benches and those of the Official Opposition. That...

The noble Baroness is right that that is how Channel 4 operates, but I am trying to emphasise that we are not about the business of changing Channel 4’s position at all. I want to meet the anxiety on the Lib Dem Benches and those of the Official Opposition. That...

Before the Minister sits down, I offer some reassurance to the noble Baroness, Lady Bonham-Carter, and give an example to the noble Lord, Lord Howard of Rising, of why the Government are creating a useful situation. I declare an interest as deputy chairman of Channel 4. During the four years...

Before the Minister sits down, I offer some reassurance to the noble Baroness, Lady Bonham-Carter, and give an example to the noble Lord, Lord Howard of Rising, of why the Government are creating a useful situation. I declare an interest as deputy chairman of Channel 4. During the four years...

My Lords, I start by reassuring the noble Lord that there is no intention at all of downgrading the quality of programmes for which Channel 4 is responsible. The amendment, which deletes the phrase "taken as a whole", arguably requires all such content to appeal to the tastes and interests...

My Lords, I start by reassuring the noble Lord that there is no intention at all of downgrading the quality of programmes for which Channel 4 is responsible. The amendment, which deletes the phrase "taken as a whole", arguably requires all such content to appeal to the tastes and interests...

Is it the case that the PSB that the new Channel 4 remit is being asked to provide on the non-linear channels can be produced in-house, which goes against the spirit of the whole concept of Channel 4, which is that it is a publishing house that supports independent production...

Is it the case that the PSB that the new Channel 4 remit is being asked to provide on the non-linear channels can be produced in-house, which goes against the spirit of the whole concept of Channel 4, which is that it is a publishing house that supports independent production...

My Lords, I hope that I am not suffering under any illusion as regards this being a probing amendment to identify the position relating to C4C and Channel 4. I make the obvious point that C4C can, and already does, provide a wide range of films, on Channel 4 and...

My Lords, I hope that I am not suffering under any illusion as regards this being a probing amendment to identify the position relating to C4C and Channel 4. I make the obvious point that C4C can, and already does, provide a wide range of films, on Channel 4 and...

I thank the Minister. As he said, it is a probing amendment. The point of it is that Channel 4 should be allowed, and not compelled, to show these films. If they are compelled, it may put too great a burden on them. I am not sure whether the Minister...

I thank the Minister. As he said, it is a probing amendment. The point of it is that Channel 4 should be allowed, and not compelled, to show these films. If they are compelled, it may put too great a burden on them. I am not sure whether the Minister...

229: Clause 19, page 21, line 33, leave out "or a county court"

229: Clause 19, page 21, line 33, leave out "or a county court"

This is another amendment where I hope I am being helpful in order that something inadvertent does not happen. It was pointed out to me that should there be an appeal and the courts end up taking an interest, the issue will probably have got quite complex and could be...

This is another amendment where I hope I am being helpful in order that something inadvertent does not happen. It was pointed out to me that should there be an appeal and the courts end up taking an interest, the issue will probably have got quite complex and could be...