Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Bill

I am grateful for the opportunity to respond to the Minister’s remarks. I also commend the contributions by the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) and my hon. Friends the Members for Poole (Mr. Syms) and for Hexham (Mr. Atkinson). The hon. Member for Bath teased out some important points in his questioning of the Minister, not least on the opportunity for technology transfer, which is perhaps not strictly to do with the new clause, but was a very valuable contribution. My hon. Friend the Member for Poole also made an important contribution on the nature of radio transmission areas, which addressed the specific point about regional switchover. He reminded the Minister of the importance of not simply looking at a map and saying, ““Well, that region has been switched over, so we can now move on.”” The lines are slightly more blurred in practice. I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham for his unequivocal support of both new clauses and he made several important points that have not yet been canvassed in consideration of the Bill, including some vivid examples of why individuals may wish to preserve the confidentiality of the fact that they receive age-related benefits. He revealed—and it was news to me—that apparently some people lie to their partners about their age. That is not something that I would dream of doing, having only yesterday discussed with Mrs. Vaizey the arrangements for my 21st birthday party. Nor will my hon. Friend have to worry about the arrangements for digital switchover, given that at the tender age of 30 he is many years away from requiring such assistance. During consideration of the Bill, I have got to know the Minister and his characteristics quite well. As I mentioned earlier, one of them is an ability to resist temptation. Another is to take refuge in the fact that the Bill has a narrow scope. Notwithstanding that, I hope that he appreciates that—with the indulgence of the Chair on several occasions—we have been able to range slightly wider and have teased out some important points. It may be that when he takes an intervention from, for example, my hon. Friend the Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans), he would find it easier to answer him on the Floor of the House rather than have to arrange a specific meeting to discuss it with him. However, the Minister may have to hire a coach because so many of us will want to go on our holidays with him to Whitehaven. September would be an appropriate time.