Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Attorney General

Oral Answers to Questions

Tom Pursglove Excerpts
Thursday 16th March 2017

(7 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Rob Wilson Portrait Mr Wilson
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There is an enormous amount of ongoing work, and we recognise that civil society organisations have a wide range of important views on Brexit. We have chaired a number of roundtables with representatives from the sector, and we are working very closely with the sector. As I said in a previous answer, we have a long-term plan and strategy to make sure that the sector is supported.

Tom Pursglove Portrait Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)
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3. What support her Department is giving local authorities to achieve superfast broadband coverage targets.

Matt Hancock Portrait The Minister for Digital and Culture (Matt Hancock)
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I can tell the House that independent figures show that superfast broadband is now available to 92.5% of UK premises; we are on track to meet our manifesto commitment of 95% by the end of the year.

Tom Pursglove Portrait Tom Pursglove
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I am grateful to the Minister for that answer. The superfast roll-out in Northamptonshire is ahead of schedule, but what reassurance can he give to my constituents in the most difficult-to-reach areas, particularly those who find themselves on county boundaries, that they will soon benefit from this roll-out, too?

Matt Hancock Portrait Matt Hancock
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My hon. Friend’s support for the Digital Economy Bill means that the universal service obligation to bring high-speed broadband to every premise in the UK is getting closer to reality. Not only that, but because of the take-up of superfast broadband, every person in Northamptonshire who takes it up also helps to get the roll-out to go further, because more money goes back into the system to provide more connection.

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Jeremy Wright Portrait The Attorney General
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It is not a waste of public money to explore an issue of this constitutional significance in the highest court in the land, and that is what happened. Of course, if the hon. Lady were right that this was a complete waste of money, three Supreme Court Justices would not have found in favour of the Government’s arguments. She will also be aware—I must gently point this out to her—that some of the money spent by the Government was spent on responding to arguments made by the Scottish Government that were rejected unanimously by the Supreme Court.

Tom Pursglove Portrait Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)
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I think that just proves that you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t with the Scottish National party. Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that, ultimately, we cannot put a cost on defending democratic principles such as this?

Jeremy Wright Portrait The Attorney General
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My hon. Friend is right. Again, I think there is merit in ensuring that the highest court in the land has the chance to consider a very significant set of constitutional questions. It has done that and produced its judgment. The Government have complied with that judgment, and the House of Commons and the House of Lords have passed a Bill accordingly.