Oral Answers to Questions

Paula Sherriff Excerpts

Thursday 3rd March 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Whittingdale]

We keep the matter under continual review, but we have taken a number of measures, and we will shortly come forward with the outcome of our consultation on strengthening the requirements for direct marketing callers. I am also in contact with organisations such as Which? that have a good record on the matter. If further measures need to be taken, we will certainly do that.

[Paula Sherriff (Dewsbury) (Lab)]

6. What progress has been made on the roll-out of superfast broadband.

[The Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy (Mr Edward Vaizey)]

The roll-out of superfast broadband is going very well and we have reached almost 4 million premises.

[Paula Sherriff]

Areas in my constituency fall into the so-called “broadband white areas”, where internet access is virtually non-existent. In 2010, the Government committed to providing every home with a basic broadband connection by the end of 2015. Three months on from that date, I have been contacted by many constituents who are still without a decent broadband service to their homes or businesses. Will the Secretary of State look into that and deliver on the commitment that was made five years ago to give every household and business access to broadband, which, in 2016, is surely a necessity, not a luxury?

[Mr Vaizey]

I am very pleased to tell the hon. Lady that about 96% of premises in her constituency will get superfast broadband, but also, as I said to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Andrew Stephenson), the satellite voucher scheme is now available and all the hon. Lady’s constituents who do not have broadband or have broadband under 2 megabits can apply and have satellite installed for free.