§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 11 July (WA 81), whether any new or revised targets in respect of government services online and UK broadband delivery and penetration are being contemplated; and, if so, when and in what terms these are to be introduced; and [HL626]
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 11 July (WA 81), whether "availability of broadband services as a foundation for market evolution" is an appropriate and coherent means of measuring delivery of the Government's target "to have the most extensive and competitive market for broadband in the G7 by 2005; and [HL627]
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 11 July (WA 81), whether availability rather than take-up of broadband is the criterion by which they will now assess whether the target "to have the most extensive 80WA and competitive market for broadband in the G7 by 2005" has been achieved. [HL628]
§ Lord Macdonald of TradestonWe have no plans to revise the targets: i) that all government services should be available electronically by 2005; and ii) for the UK to have the most extensive and competitive broadband market in the G7 by 2005.
On broadband, we have asked the stakeholder group to advise us on the quantifiable measures by which we should measure progress towards our broadband target. We have received a progress report from the stakeholder group which recommends setting up indices to compare price, competition, coverage, addressable market and take-up. This report is available at http:/www.e-envoy.gov.uk/ecommerce/broadband/bbsgrep menu.htm
The group expects to publish its final recommendations, alongside a government response to them, in November.