HELP SCHEME HITCH TO HIT WALES'S MOST VULNERABLE - WILLIAMS

9.08.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Jun 2009

Speaking after the release of a Written Ministerial Statement showing that approximately 65,000 people were given the wrong advice over the digital switchover help scheme, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Roger Williams MP has demanded that steps are taken to ensure the mistakes are not repeated.

65,000 people, mainly in the Llandudno area, but also in Llandrindod Wells, and some parts of North-West England, were mistakenly written to explaining that they were eligible for the scheme when they were not. The Government has stated that anyone who has already applied based on that letter will be treated as though they were eligible.

A further group of people who were entitled to free entry to the help scheme were mistakenly told they would have to pay a £40 fee for assistance. The Help Scheme is available to around 440,000 households in Wales, but 58% of those will have to pay a fee to gain access to the scheme. The Government has not said how many are affected by this issue, but has said they "believe the numbers affected to be small."

Commenting, Roger Williams said:

"It is a matter of extreme concern that so many people have been given the wrong information over the digital switchover help scheme.

"It is welcome that the Government is taking action to inform people of the mistake, but it must ensure that this mistake isn't repeated in other areas. I am particularly concerned that some of the most vulnerable groups, who are eligible for free assistance, may have been put off by the £40 cost and may choose not to apply. It is extremely important that the Government follows these people up.

"The help scheme does seem to be suffering from significant problems. The low take-up suggests it is not being promoted as it could be, and the £40 fee required from over half those eligible may be acting as a barrier to those for whom assistance is essential.

"The Government has said that the expected surplus from the help scheme will go towards meeting the universal service commitment for broadband. That is welcome, but it should not mean that any less effort is made in trying to identify those who need help to get ready for digital switchover."