Later today, I met with two senior representatives of the BBC digital switchover help scheme to discuss ways in which elderly and disabled people in the West End can be assisted with the digital TV switchover, taking place in Dundee and Tayside next summer. I met with Alan Moore, the Switchover Help Scheme Manager for Scotland and Colin Scott, the Scheme's regional project co-ordinator for Tayside, to be briefed on the details of the help scheme for elderly and disabled people to ensure that no residents are left with blank TV screens after analogue TV signals are ended across Tayside in mid 2010.
The help scheme allows those aged over 75 and those on certain disability benefits a low-cost way of converting to digital TV including the equipment and full installation - to remove any worries about losing TV reception. For many on low incomes, the service is entirely free of charge and today's meeting was useful to get the full details of the scheme from its senior managers. I am anxious that all elderly and disabled constituents get full advantage of the scheme which has been set up and is being run by the BBC.
I am advised that all people who qualify for this useful help scheme to convert to digital television will be automatically sent information about it, probably starting next January - in plenty time before the old analogue TV signals are switched off in the summer of next year. However, there will be other publicity to ensure people are made aware of the scheme and I have specifically invited BBC digital switchover help scheme representatives to come to the community fayre being run as part of the West End Christmas Week later this year as it will be an ideal opportunity to discuss the benefits of the scheme with local people in Dundee's West End.
The digital Switchover Help Scheme is being run by the BBC, under an agreement with government. More information is available at http://www.helpscheme.co.uk/ or by phoning 0800 40 85 900.