§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what help will be given to rural communities to enable them to access broadband. [93127]
§ Mr. TimmsIn November 2002, the Government launched the UK Broadband Task Force, which has the aim of stimulating the take-up and roll-out of broadband across the UK, particularly in rural and remote areas. The Task Force's regional broadband co-ordinators, located in each of the English regions and the Devolved Administrations, will seek to address this issue in their particular regions or nations.
Also at a regional level, the Government have provided the Regional Development Agencies and the Devolved Administrations with the £30 million UK Broadband Fund, which was set up to help develop innovative schemes to extend broadband roll-out. Projects from this Fund are on-going and being monitored to identify examples of best practice that can be shared around the country.
In addition, the Government have pledged £1 billion over 2003–06 towards broadband connectivity in the public sector. It is anticipated that this will lead to broadband networks being extended more widely. The aggregation of public sector demand, which is a main focus of the UK Broadband Task Force, will help accelerate this roll-out and ensure its efficiency.