Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps the Government is taking to improve the (a) electronic and (b) physical connectivity of rural villages in Wales.
Answered by Guto Bebb
We are introducing the Universal Service Obligation, guaranteeing internet connectivity to half a million rural properties throughout the UK that fall outside existing plans. We have also secured deals with the Mobile Network Operators to deliver mobile coverage to 90% of the UK’s landmass and to 95% of premises in Wales.
Recognising the importance of transport costs to rural communities, we have frozen fuel duty for six successive years, the longest freeze for 40 years.