(11 months, 4 weeks ago)
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Before the right hon. Member gives way, may I just say something to her? I am sorry, but I forgot to ask her if she could sit down at 4.48 pm, so that I can get the other speakers in.
And I will just repeat that the motion is:
“That this House has considered Government support for rural communities”,
because I am failing miserably in the Chair. Sorry. [Laughter.]
Sir Charles, your failure is met by enthusiasm and has been offset as a result.
I thank my right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State for the point she is making. On digital connectivity, the percentage of my constituency of Bosworth with 1 gigabit has increased from 0.1% to 67%. This kind of thing gives huge opportunity to businesses and folk in my community. Is that not exactly the kind of thing that the Government want to do, in order to unlock opportunities for businesses, so that they can create new reasons for people to be in a rural constituency, apart from the beautiful countryside?