Superfast Broadband

Debate between Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville and Baroness Neville-Rolfe

Thursday 26th November 2015 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Neville-Rolfe]

My Lords, my noble friend is absolutely right that satellite is part of the solution to ensure access for everyone to at least two megabits per second by the end of this year. I would be cautious about planning, and particularly about historic buildings.

[Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (LD)]

My Lords, given the undoubted importance of universal coverage, could the Minister update the House on the progress of the state aid negotiations? Is she satisfied with the progress of rollout to business parks in the connecting Devon and Somerset areas?

[Baroness Neville-Rolfe]

I will write to the noble Baroness about the progress in Brussels, which I know my friend in the other place, Ed Vaizey, has been extremely busy on. I will also write about the particular circumstances in Devon and Cornwall. Actually, I was a sceptic on this but we have made a lot of progress. I look forward to telling her about that.