HC Deb 08 July 2004 vol 423 c1005
14. Mr. David Cameron (Witney) (Con)

What recent representations she has received about difficulties in accessing broadband technology in rural areas; and if she will make a statement. [182691]

The Minister for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services (Mr. Stephen Timms)

My Department has received over 100 items of correspondence on this subject since January. The proportion of rural households within reach of a broadband service is rising quickly, and there is a realistic prospect that every community in the country will have broadband by the end of next year.

Mr. Cameron

I am grateful for that answer. Trigger levels have been set for all the exchanges in my constituency, and they have all been reached, so does the Minister agree that the next big issue—he did not really address this in his reply—is how we get broadband to homes, farms and businesses that are some distance from the exchanges? Many groups such as Oxfordshire Rural Broadband provide community service solutions, but how will the Government help to tackle a pressing problem that will become more acute in rural areas as businesses and farms realise that they cannot get the service that the Minister talked about?

Mr. Timms

The hon. Gentleman makes a fair point. Some 87 per cent. of UK homes and businesses have access to broadband, but only 72 per cent. in market towns, and 22 per cent. in rural villages. There is still a big job to do, which is why the DTI and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs jointly set up a rural broadband unit that has carried out important work. The hon. Gentleman will be encouraged by British Telecom's progress in extending the distance over which its exchanges can support an asymmetric digital subscriber line. We are working closely with regional development agencies on the issue, and the rural broadband unit is working through the community broadband network to support communitybased providers such as the one in his constituency to which he referred. I very much support that work and we are, in a variety of ways, encouraging and promoting further progress.

Mrs. Ann Cryer (Keighley) (Lab)

I wonder if my—

Mr. Deputy Speaker

Order. At this stage, the hon. Lady just has to ask Question 15.