Digital Landlines: Rural Communities Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
Ashley Fox
Main Page: Ashley Fox (Conservative - Bridgwater)Department Debates - View all Ashley Fox's debates with the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
Digital Landlines: Rural Communities
Ashley Fox Excerpts(2 days, 9 hours ago)
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Damian Hinds
The hon. Lady is, of course, right. My constituency is not quite as rural as hers, but it is true that, while it sounds great when people talk about reaching 95%, 97% or 98% of households, hon. Members in this Chamber represent the 2%, the 3%, and the 5%, and we absolutely need a robust, reliable solution for them as well.
Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater) (Con)
Large parts of the Bridgewater constituency lack both effective broadband and mobile signal. Does my hon. Friend agree that the Government should pause the switching-off of landlines until there is an effective technology that can be used in rural areas?
Damian Hinds
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend that we need to find robust solutions.