HC Deb 07 November 2002 vol 392 cc742-4W
Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Totnes (Mr. Steen) of 22 October 2002,Official Report, column 250W, how the £30 million Broadband Fund is being divided amongst the regions and devolved administrations. [80064]

Mr. Timms

The £30 million UK Broadband Fund has been divided amongst the regions and devolved administrations as follows:

Region/Nation Total Amount Awarded From Broadband Fund (£million)
Scotland 4.39
Wales 2.67
Northern Ireland 1.46
North East 1.46
North West 2.68
Yorkshire and Humberside 3.10
West Midlands 2.08
East Midlands 2.09
East of England 3.22
South West 3.78
South East 2.90
London 0.11

Michael Fabricant

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the cost arising from broadband interference caused by powerline telecommunications to high frequency radio transmissions by broadcasters and short range devices used by the police and Government agencies. [78531]

Mr. Timms

The Radiocommunications Agency intends to publish a national consultation later this month to determine the implications, including costs, associated with a number of possible options for limiting emissions from powerline and other wired telecommunication systems that have potential to cause interference to high frequency radio services.

Michael Fabricant

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps she is taking to minimise broadband interference caused by powerline telecommunications to high frequency radio transmissions by broadcasters and short range devices used by the police and Government agencies. [78530]

Mr. Timms

The Radiocommunications Agency established a Technical Working Group in March 2001 to determine the compatibility of powerline telecommunication and other broadband wireline systems with radio services operating between 1.6 MHz and 30 MHz. Membership of the group was open to all interested parties and its final report will be published later this month as part of a national consultation. The outcome of the consultation is expected in early 2003. It will be used to inform the Government's contribution to work that is underway in the relevant international standards bodies concerned with limiting broadband telecommunication interference.

Michael Fabricant

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the Government's policy toward internet access via powerline telecommunications. [78529]

Mr. Timms

The Government has set a target of making the UK the most competitive and extensive broadband market of all the G7 countries. We believe this can best be achieved through deployment of a wide range of competing delivery technologies and this includes powerline telecommunications. This technology has the potential to provide broadband connectivity to isolated communities and is currently undergoing some small project trails in Scotland that are part funded by government.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many applications were considered and by whom for the position of DTI South West Regional Broadband Advisor; and if she will make a statement on the training and experience held by the incumbent; [78922]

(2) what the nature is of the relationship between Smart South West and the UK Online for Business Regional Broadband Champion; [78924]

(3) when, by whom and at what cost the appointment of the UK Online for Business Regional Broadband Champion was advertised; [78921]

(4) if she will make a statement on the experience and technical training of the successful candidate selected to be the South West Regional Broadband Unit Broadband Expert; [78923]

(5) if she will make a statement on the competition for the appointment by Smart South West of a UK Online for Business Regional Broadband Champion; and what the remuneration offered was. [78925]

Mr. Timms

[holding answers 5 November 2002]: The Department of Trade and Industry is currently setting up a UK Broadband Taskforce, with the aim of extending the availability and take-up of broadband throughout the United Kingdom.

A regional broadband co-ordinator is being appointed in each English region and Devolved Administration. This person will work alongside Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and Devolved Administrations in order to achieve the unit's overarching aim.

Competition for each of the contracts has been undertaken on an open and transparent basis. Contracts were advertised through the Broadband Stakeholder Group, the Communication Managers' Association and a recruitment agency. In a number of cases RDAs also put forward candidates. The advertising process was run at no cost; the recruitment agency charges a fee if one of their candidates is placed—in line with industry standards. From the candidates put forward a shortlist was compiled in discussion between DTI and the relevant RDA, based on the match between the candidate's CV and the job description. The shortlisted candidates were generally interviewed by a representative of the DTI, the new Head of the UK Broadband Taskforce and a representative of the Regional Development Agency.

In the case of the South West Regional Development Agency, the long-list consisted of seven candidates of which three were interviewed. The successful candidate was considered by each interviewer, independently, to have the required combination of communication skills, knowledge of broadband and regional understanding to perform the role of regional broadband co-ordinator. The remuneration package for the successful candidate is approximately in line with the total remuneration package offered to a Range 10 Civil Servant in the DTI (up to £46,502 plus superannuation, outside London).

Smart South West is a Public Private Partnership whose purpose is to map IT-related projects in the South West Region. The new regional broadband coordinator in the South West Region is a former part-time employee of Smart South West. The broadband coordinator will work across the region, including with bodies such as Smart South West in order to extend the availability and take-up of broadband.

As part of the appointment and contract management process, we are putting appropriate measures in place in order to ensure that we avoid or minimise potential conflicts of interest.