4 A NEW OBJECTIVE
36. The progress made in providing broadband access
across the United Kingdom is welcome. However, there is a risk
that rural communities will be left behind. Yet the Government
is committed by the Rural White Paper to the maintenance of thriving
and vibrant rural communities. It is also committed to providing
access to high quality public services, and "a working countryside,
with a prosperous and diverse economy".[75]
Moreover, as we learnt from an earlier inquiry, the Rural Payments
Agency is actively encouraging farmers to submit documentation
electronically, a process which would be made infinitely less
time-consuming using broadband.[76]
At a time when the Government is attempting to encourage diversification
in the rural economy, to persuade farmers and others in the rural
economy to access Government services electronically and to facilitate
social inclusion for rural areas it is counter-productive that
it has allowed a 'digital divide' to open up between urban and
rural areas in terms of access to broadband. It is precisely to
stand up for the interests of rural communities in such policy
areas that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
was created. Although we heard evidence that it has begun to act
for rural areas in relation to broadband we strongly urge it to
do more.
37. The Government argues that broadband is essential
to ensure competitiveness and efficiency. It is therefore hugely
unfair that many rural communities may not be able to gain from
broadband - at least not for some time. Recent statements by Ministers
about the need for rural areas to have access to broadband,[77]
including in evidence to us, are welcome, but the Government's
formal policy objective remains unchanged. We recommend that
the Government now reformulate its objectives in respect of broadband
to reflect the need for broadband to be accessible in all areas
of the country. We further recommend that the Government back
its new objectives with practical policies which will ensure that
broadband is accessible to all at affordable rates as soon as
practicable.
38. Annexed to this report is a draft resolution
for consideration by the House of Commons. We hope that time
will be found to debate the resolution, and we invite the House
to support it.
75 Department of the Environment, Transport and the
Regions (2000) Our countryside - The future, Summary Back
76
Sixth Report, Rural Payments Agency, HC (2002-03) 382 Back
77
See Broadband for all - minister, Farmers Weekly, 13-19
June 2003, p.12 Back
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