§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to encourage total roll-out of broadband in rural areas. [77848]
§ Alun MichaelThe Government are setting up a new regional broadband unit, co-ordinated by the DTI. This unit will see a broadband expert located in each of the English regions and the devolved Administrations. The experts' role will be to help stimulate the rollout and take up of broadband, including in rural and remote areas. This is part of the Government's strategy to meet their target for the UK to have the most extensive and competitive broadband market in the G7 by 2005. Defra is working closely with DTI in taking the rural broadband agenda forward.