The Government is distancing itself from the discredited 2015 date for analogue radio switch-off and making clear that the date came from the broadcast industry.

On Tuesday, Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, spoke at Digital UK's update on digital TV switchover.

“In an attempt to make myself the most unpopular minister in the Government, I intend to press ahead with digital radio switchover,” he said. “We need to address the myths that surround switchover.”

Climbing on my hobby-horse (see the next issue of ERT magazine and what I have been banging on about for the past 10 years), I asked Mr Vaizey when he would set out a realistic plan for digital radio switchover, which consumers would not mock and thus ignore, as they have been mocking and ignoring the 2015 fantasy.

“On Thursday,” said Mr Vaizey unequivocally, “I will set out a plan this Thursday. But I can't stop the public mocking it.”

Came Thursday and the Intellect conference, and Mr Vaizey made good his promise and put the broadcasters firmly in their place.

“2015 is the target that the industry thinks is achievable,” he said. “That date is not set in stone. It will have to be driven by listeners.

“We agree that 2015 is appropriate if, and it’s a big if, consumers are supporting it. We will only consider that date when more than 50% of listening is digital – in other words analogue is in the minority.”

“I realised quickly that this could turn into a major row. So I can say clearly that we will not switch off until the vast majority of listeners have voluntarily switched over.

“2015 remains a target date to aspire to that the industry came up with. There is a lot more work to be done before we can support it. Listeners are passionate about radio. We got a glimpse of that with the furore that followed the BBC’s announcement – now reversed – that it would close the Radio 6 digital music station.”

Acknowledging the challenge of persuading car makers to factory-fit digital radios, and convert the many millions of existing cars with only analogue FM radios and aerials, Mr Vaizey pledged “soon” to meet all the car manufacturers.

I suggested Mr Vaizey try for himself using a Pure Highway and hunt in vain for free FM frequencies in urban areas to use for FM re-broadcast to a dash-mounted radio.

I did this because a Digital Radio UK spokeswoman had previously assured me she had no trouble finding frequencies where she lived – mind you, that is in rural Scotland.

In the immortal words of Mrs Dale’s Diary, I do continue to worry about DRUK. At the Intellect event, DRUK was distributing leaflets that baldly stated that “the motor industry has committed to ensuring that all cars are digitally enabled from 2013”.

This is what DRUK had told me in late June, along with converting cars to DAB for under £100 during routine servicing or MOT.

But when I checked with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which is a member of DRUK, it flatly renounced the sub-£100 price and carefully added that the fitting of DAB in new cars may not necessarily be “as standard”.

Barry Fox