Burnham brands Minister's stance "feeble" on access to Welsh Public Service Broadcasting.

2.30.59pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 17th May 2005

Eleanor Burnham has accused Culture Minister Alun Pugh of failing to stand up for Wales and ensure universal access to Welsh Public Service Broadcasting. Ms Burnham has called on the Minister to make the case to guarantee that people in all parts of Wales have access to Welsh TV news and other programmes.

In his submission to OFCOM's review of Public Service Broadcasting the Minister for Culture Alun Pugh AM, in acknowledging how bad things were, said that "We do not want the situation to be even worse after digital switchover, coverage must at the very least remain the same as now post switchover."

Eleanor Burnham AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Culture, Welsh Language in reply said that "Begging for things not to be worse and hoping that they will stay the same is feeble. The Minister should be fighting for what the people of Wales need not rolling over and hoping for the best. The Welsh Assembly Government lacks the willingness to tell Westminster what Wales needs and then to fight for it."

Some areas in the north and east of Wales don't get Welsh TV because of poor coverage or because the English transmitter signal is too strong.

Mrs Burnham added: "Many people are deprived of their right to choose what they watch. They pay their licence fee and live in Wales but don't get Welsh Public Service Broadcasting. Not only are they cut off culturally from the rest of Wales but they don't get Welsh news and so are virtually excluded from the democratic process in Wales.

"People in Wales should have universal access to Welsh Public Service Broadcasting. Thirty years after the Crawford Report on Broadcasting Coverage specifically cited Wrexham in North Wales and the border region as being deprived of Welsh Broadcasting, the problem has not been addressed and there is no excuse. Digital switchover provides one last chance to give people what they've paid for."

Mrs Burnham renewed her call for universal access to Welsh Public Service Broadcasting and has today lodged a Statement of Opinion at the National Assembly calling for the UK government to guarantee universal access in Wales after digital switchover.

Notes:

1) The Statement of Opinion reads as follows:

This National Assembly notes:

That the Crawford Report (1974) noted the problem of broadcasting coverage in North Wales and the border regions.

That in the 30 years since the report this problem has not been addressed.

This National Assembly believes that:

Public Service Broadcasting is the cornerstone of Welsh culture and language.

That it is integral to an informed and involved democracy.

People in Wales should have universal access to Welsh Public Service Broadcasting.

This National Assembly calls on the UK Government to guarantee universal access in Wales to Welsh Public Service Broadcasting.

2) Copies of Eleanor's submission to OFCOM are available at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/psb3/responses/e_burham

Diwedd/Ends.