§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress is being made in their strategies to make it easier to access broadband services. [HL3449]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleThe UK Online annual report, published in December 2001, detailed progress towards our broadband targets. Broadband services in the UK had continued to develop over the year, and 60 to 65 per cent of the country is now covered by an affordable broadband technology.
Progress is being made by industry and government. Last year we announced a £30 million fund to encourage broadband roll-out in each region of the country, last week we set out how that money would be spent in each region and earlier this month the Government welcomed BT's announcement that they were looking to reduce wholesale prices for broadband.