27 June 2008
A large amount of money could have been wasted by the government in the digital TV switchover regime, it has been claimed. The Commons Public Accounts Committee claimed that the general public has not been given enough insight into the new technology, reports the Western Mail. Many consumers are still purchasing analogue television sets, a report from the body found, despite the fact that the signal is due to be switched off. Chair of the committee and Conservative MP Edward Leigh claimed that the measures in place are not good enough and more transparency is needed. "The government has decided to pay over £800m of ring-fenced licence fee money to the BBC to fund digital switchover, without either ensuring adequate accountability to Parliament or spelling out exactly what it wants for the money," he said. It is expected that the switchover will be completed by 2012, with Ulster among the last places to see the change.