Future of Terrestrial Television

Maureen Burke Excerpts

Thursday 4th September 2025 Westminster Hall

[Maureen Burke (Glasgow North East) (Lab)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg. I would like to thank the right hon. Member for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (David Mundell) for the opportunity to speak today about a matter of growing concern: the potential future switch-off of digital television broadcasting and what it means for millions of our citizens.

In an era of rapid change, it is easy to focus on innovation and overlook the basic systems that still serve as lifelines for many. Traditional scheduled TV is one of those systems. It is not flashy or new, but for a significant portion of our population it is essential. Digital broadcasting represents a lifeline of connectivity and inclusion, particularly for older and poorer individuals. These are often the people who do not have access to the latest smart devices or high-speed internet, or who may not feel comfortable navigating streaming platforms, apps or digital menus.

For many older people, especially those living alone, the television is not just entertainment; it is a companion. It is a reliable, familiar voice in the room, a source of news, information and even reassurance. It gives them access to the world outside their four walls, and that connection is something we should never take for granted. Data from the regulator predicts that up to 5% of the population may still be reliant on linear digital television into the 2030s, and I am certain that those people are likely to be the oldest and poorest in their communities. They may not be well represented in debates about media policy or digital inclusion, but they are in the millions, and they matter.

Many of those people live on limited incomes and cannot afford the devices, subscriptions and connectivity required for digital-only media. If we allow linear broadcasting to be switched off entirely in the 2030s, we risk creating a digital divide. We risk isolating those already most vulnerable to loneliness. We risk cutting people off from national news, emergency broadcasts, cultural programming and the simple companionship of shared live viewing experiences.

I understand the pressures from mobile operators to release parts of the digital spectrum that are currently reserved for TV broadcasting. To them, I say that digital transformation should never come at the cost of social inclusion. We must ensure that progress is inclusive, that innovation serves everyone and that we do not leave behind those who built the very society we now take for granted.

We must also consider the potential cost to consumers of such a switch-off. Many households will already be keenly aware of how the costs of multiple online streaming subscriptions can mount up. Our technology must change with the times, but we must ensure that no household is left behind in this process, and that changes to these vital services do not lead to a fragmented system of individual subscriptions to access each and every national broadcaster.

I call on the Government and broadcasters to resist pressure from mobile operators and the cost savings that an early switch-off might provide to broadcasters. For the time being, we must maintain linear digital broadcasting to ensure that nobody is left behind in the technological revolution we are all living through.

[Derek Twigg (in the Chair)]

I remind hon. Members that there is a guideline of four minutes for speeches.

Gambling Harms

Maureen Burke Excerpts

Wednesday 5th February 2025 Westminster Hall

[Maureen Burke (Glasgow North East) (Lab)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Halesowen (Alex Ballinger) for securing this debate on an issue that matters deeply to many of my constituents, and I thank him for the experiences he shared in his opening contribution.

I felt compelled to come along today following a recent advice surgery I held in my constituency. I met my constituent Margaret, who bravely shared the impact of gambling on her life and, more specifically, her son’s. Tragically, Margaret’s son took his own life because of the impact of his gambling addiction. Margaret never knew that her son was an addict; she learned of it only following his sudden death, when she reviewed bank statements and discovered how debt had piled up, ultimately becoming too much for him.

I think that speaks to how gambling impacts people. What is at first an occasional trip to the bookies becomes something uncontrollable and all-consuming. People suffer in silence, hiding their addiction from their families as the debt grows and the shame deepens. There will be countless people battling this addiction in silence in our communities. The responsibility to intervene and prevent harm cannot only be for individuals and their families. Gambling operators must do more. Operators should identify unusual patterns, monitor online activity and recognise regular customers, acting early to prevent debt from spiralling.

[Alex Sobel (Leeds Central and Headingley) (Lab/Co-op)]

My hon. Friend is making a wonderful contribution. GamCare has found that there has been exponential growth in online gambling. More than half its callers struggle with online gambling and 60% said online slots were the main problem. We just heard about many people struggling with debt and the affordability of gambling. Does my hon. Friend think that, with the amount of data online gambling companies have, we should pursue affordability checks, so that nobody can gamble more than they can afford?

[Maureen Burke]

I agree that that should be looked at.

Margaret’s story is heartbreaking but, through her grief, she is determined to act. I am proud to be working with her to bring a petition to this House. Margaret began the campaign before I was elected to this place, with my predecessor, David Linden, and I am pleased that the petition has already secured hundreds of signatures. Margaret’s call is for the Government to introduce tougher regulation and requirements for gambling operators and financial institutions.

I am certain that Margaret will be encouraged by the action that the UK Government are already taking, with the announcement of a statutory levy on gambling operators. The money raised from that levy will be used to fund research, prevention and health programmes. I look forward to hearing from the Minister what further steps the Government intend to take to address the tragic harms caused by gambling, recognising the impact that such addiction has not just on the individual, but on the families who are too often left picking up the pieces.