Rural Phone and Broadband Connectivity

Debate between Jesse Norman and Graham Stuart

Tuesday 3rd February 2015 Commons Chamber

[Jesse Norman]

I am very grateful to my hon. Friend for making the very important point that while these are especially difficult issues in rural areas, they are not confined to them. If it is possible to have a problem with mobile connectivity in SW1, I invite him to consider what it is like in HR1.

The issue is not merely bad mobile and broadband coverage, but the compounded effect of both, especially on isolated communities in rural areas such as my own. To take just one example, Vodafone recently acknowledged to me that it has only 55% coverage for 3G mobile data services in Herefordshire. Is it any wonder that bad connectivity is such a source of continuing frustration?

[Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con)]

I do not mean to trump my hon. Friend, but I met Vodafone last week and its current 3G coverage in my constituency is just over 20%. The good news is that thanks to the Government announcement of additional funding, it plans to reach 99% by the end of 2017.

[Jesse Norman]

I invite colleagues across the House to engage in our new sport: the four Yorkshiremen of mobile coverage. If anyone can beat my hon. Friend’s figures, he or she is welcome to intervene.

In the previous debate, I focused on the basic unfairness of bad coverage and connectivity, and on its disastrous economic and social effect. I highlighted the situation at Kingstone surgery, which had such a bad signal that without urgent repairs it was going to be unable to upgrade its software, potentially affecting 4,200 patients in a matter of weeks. I have since spoken to Herefordshire council and met BT again. I am delighted to inform the House that obstacles have been overcome and that the surgery is scheduled to receive a fast broadband service on 18 February, just in time for its upgrade.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jesse Norman and Graham Stuart

Tuesday 10th December 2013 Commons Chamber

[Jesse Norman (Hereford and South Herefordshire) (Con)]

Is not the point that the average income of the bottom third of the population stopped growing in real terms in 2003?

[Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con)]

Under Labour.

[Jesse Norman]

Under Labour. Therefore, it is a matter of catch-up before the Government can get the economy back on track.