Government Departments: Broadband Facilities

HL Deb 09 May 2002 vol 634 cc201-2WA

The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether central government departments are broadband-enabled: and, if not, what plans there are to achieve broadband connectivity by 2005. [HL3447]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

The majority of central government departments are broadband enabled albeit not at every site or local office. Responsibility for expenditure on broadband connectivity lies with individual departments. However, the Office of the e-Envoy has drawn up detailed communications and IT expenditure plan:3 as part of the 2002 Spending Review in order that activity in this area is co-ordinated. This work is being fed into the Office of Government Commerce's broadband procurement feasibility study.