Broadband (Hansard, 15 October 2002)

§ Brian White
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in centralised procurement of broadband networks for Government use. [71401]

§ Charlotte Atkins
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in centralised procurement of broadband networks for Government use. [71405]

§ Mr. Boateng
My hon. Friend, the Minister of State for e-Commerce and Competitiveness at the Department of Trade & Industry announced on 26 June the letting of framework agreements by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) to enable the public sector to buy broadband services more effectively; and the setting up of a Regional Broadband Unit.
The frameworks procurement is underway and contracts are expected to be awarded next spring. The Regional Broadband Unit will be operational in November 2002. As part of the Unit, an OGC team will provide procurement assistance to the public sector. In addition, a DTI team of regional broadband advisors will ensure that public sector broadband procurement has the maximum impact on regional economic development.