Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to provide superfast broadband in (a) rural communities and (b) Gordon constituency.

As a result of the government's Superfast Broadband Programme and roll-out by the private sector, superfast broadband with speeds of more than 24Mbps is now available to more than 92% of homes and businesses in the UK and the government expects this to reach 95% by the end of 2017. This coverage includes rural areas. The delivery programme in Scotland including the Gordon constituency is delivered by the Scottish Government.

Thinkbroadband estimate that current coverage of superfast broadband in the Gordon constituency is 79%, which DCMS estimate will rise to 83% by the end of 2017. This compares to a UK average of over 92%. The Scottish Government is responsible for delivering broadband in Scotland.

Take up in the Rest of Scotland Project area is 28% and as a result of the UK Government's contract management, further funding can be returned to the Scottish Government for reinvestment in more superfast coverage as take-up rises. It would be for the Scottish Government to decide where funding returned by suppliers under the contracts is allocated to increase coverage.