Constituents complain about broadband efficiencies, say MPs

MPs put pressure on Department for Business to speed up broadband rollout

Government ministers concerned with rural community development have been urged in the Commons to step up pressure on Department for Business colleagues to speed up the rollout of superfast broadband in rural areas.

Kettering Tory MP Philip Hollobone said during a questions session he had received a protest from all 22 villages in his constituency following their apparent exclusion from the government's proposal to establish fibre optic hubs.

And Democratic Ulster Unionist MP Gregory Campbell said local people have complained that they regularly see advertisements indicating significant broadband speeds, but that they can very seldom, if ever, get them.

Junior environment minister Richard Benyon denied that there are areas that will not benefit from the £830m (including £300m after 2013) being spent on setting up the hubs from which superfast broadband will operate.

He explained that the rural issue was being addressed, that there was an enormous sum of money being made available for a very ambitious project and that he hoped the difference would become apparent very soon.