HC Deb 26 June 2002 vol 387 cc886-7W
Mr. Connarty

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of benefits of access to broadband services for SMEs; and if she will make a statement. [61791]

Mr. Timms

The Government have conducted studies of the benefits of ICT and e-commerce to business and SME's. Other organisations have conducted studies which suggest that broadband has a range of benefits, with the potential to bring about productivity improvement e.g. lower transaction costs when communicating with customers and suppliers.

Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what comparative research she has commissioned on the delivery of broadband in(a) other European countries and (b) the US. [63665]

Mr. Timms

UK Online: the broadband future published in February 2001 sets out our research activities. The UK also has bilateral contacts with countries in the EU and around the world, and has a memorandum of understanding on co-operation with the US Federal Trade Commission. This allows us to benchmark progress more qualitatively.

We are also keeping in close touch with analysis of developments in broadband markets being carried out by the OECD.

Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with business leaders regarding broadband; and what was the result of those discussions. [63667]

Mr. Timms

I have recently met with a number of business leaders, including representatives of several mobile telecommunications firms, BT, Cable companies and Tesco.com. I hope to meet shortly with several other major players, both from within and outside the telecoms sector. I have also met Keith Todd, the chairman of the Broadband Stakeholder Group, to hear the views and comments of the 250 members of the Stakeholder Group.

The Government have worked closely with business and other stakeholders to develop and take forward the UK broadband strategy and will continue to do so. Latest developments in this strategy can be found at www.e-envoy.gov.uk, and my speeches and press notices on broadband can be found at www.dti.gov.uk.

Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on the target set in February 2001 to make the UK the most competitive and extensive broadband market in the G7 by 2005. [63666]

Mr. Timms

The UK Online annual report of December 2001 stated that the UK had the fifth most extensive market and the fourth most competitive market in the G7.

Since then the market has continued to develop, with prices falling, coverage increasing and take-up accelerating. Around 66 per cent. of the population are now able to access one or more of ADSL, cable or wireless technologies, with nearly 40 per cent. having a choice.

BT has now enabled 1,115 exchanges to deliver broadband services, and has given customers the ability to register their interest with a promise to make broadband available when the level reaches a specified figure. This allow more than 40 resellers of BT's wholesale ADSL to offer broadband to customers.

The Government have set out a comprehensive programme of action, including a £30 million fund to help the regional development agencies develop innovative schemes to extend broadband networks, as well as measures to tackle competition, supply, demand and content.

We will shortly be announcing the next steps for public sector procurement, with a view to maximising the buying power of the public sector and ensuring that broadband is bought in a cost-effective, joined-up manner.