Oral Answers to Questions

Gregg McClymont Excerpts
Thursday 3rd March 2011

(13 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Vaizey of Didcot Portrait Mr Vaizey
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As I have said, we have secured the funding for this spending round. There are now 185 community radio stations on air, and I know that Hermitage FM is extremely popular in my hon. Friend’s constituency. Ofcom will shortly report on a third round of licensing for community radio.

Gregg McClymont Portrait Gregg McClymont (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) (Lab)
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16. What assessment he has made of the effect on small businesses of the revision of the timetable for the introduction of universal broadband.

Lord Vaizey of Didcot Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey)
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My Department believes that all businesses will benefit from the enhanced availability of superfast broadband. Work carried out by Broadband Delivery UK last summer underpinned the decision to bring together efforts to drive superfast broadband out as far as possible at the same time as delivering universal broadband.




Gregg McClymont Portrait Gregg McClymont
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Does the Minister still believe that duct access is the solution for the roll-out of next-generation superfast broadband to rural populations?

Lord Vaizey of Didcot Portrait Mr Vaizey
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I certainly believe that duct access is part of the solution. Not only are we investing £530 million in the lifetime of this Parliament, but, as I am sure the hon. Gentleman will agree, deregulation—in the sense of removing barriers to investment—is a very important part of the strategy as well.