Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of people who are eligible for the digital switchover targeted assistance programme but who may not be identified by the proposals put forward in the Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Bill; and if she will make a statement.
Answer
DWP holds information on the vast majority of people aged 75 or above and on all those who have an award of disability living allowance, attendance allowance or an equivalent benefit under the industrial injuries scheme. The Veterans Agency holds information about people who have an award of constant attendance allowance or war pensioners' mobility supplement payable under the pre-2005 war pension scheme.We estimate that around 20 per cent. of people who are blind or partially sighted do not qualify on grounds of age or an award of a qualifying disability benefit—around 60,000 people in all. Therefore they may not be identified through the provisions of the Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Bill.We are considering whether the Bill should be extended to include information held by local authorities on people who are blind or partially sighted.