Oral Answers to Questions Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate

Neil Carmichael

Main Page: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)

Oral Answers to Questions

Neil Carmichael Excerpts
Thursday 21st January 2016

(8 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text
Lord Vaizey of Didcot Portrait Mr Vaizey
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I am pleased to say that the Cumbrian programme is going extremely well. About £20 million of Government money has been invested, and in the hon. Lady’s constituency we will reach 92% by the end of the programme, which is a fantastic result, considering that, commercially, less than half of her constituents would have got superfast broadband. We will soon be introducing a consultation on the universal service obligation, and we intend to proceed with haste.

Neil Carmichael Portrait Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con)
- Hansard - -

This kind of option is very important in rural areas such as mine, where we have technology issues getting broadband to Longney and Elmore. We have done some good work with BT, but can the Minister guarantee that we will push ahead with all options to make sure everybody has access to broadband in my constituency?

Lord Vaizey of Didcot Portrait Mr Vaizey
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Yes, I can guarantee that. We are moving as fast as we can to deliver superfast broadband, and we intend to reach 95% of the country by the end of 2017 and to have superfast broadband for everyone by 2020. We also have to think again about what we need to do in the decade after that.