George Freeman
Main Page: George Freeman (Conservative - Mid Norfolk)(13 years, 8 months ago)
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Rory Stewart
I now give way to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Norfolk (George Freeman).
George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)
I thank my hon. Friend for giving way, and pay tribute to his leadership in this important field. He mentioned the Treasury, and I wish to speak about the payback potential of such investment.
As with so many infrastructure matters, the payback is enormous, and I urge the Minister to make the case to the Treasury. The Chancellor gave a stunning Budget today, outlining investment in East Anglia—for science in Norwich and Cambridge and for the A11. It could herald a renaissance of small business and high technology, but it will not happen without good broadband. With it, we would be paid back in spades—it would pay huge dividends to the Treasury. Somehow, we must find a mechanism to anticipate that growth, using it now to fund the infrastructure that will feed it.
Rory Stewart
I give way to my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Guy Opperman).