APPENDIX 12
Memorandum submitted Ms Sally Osgerby
(S22)
1. There is a demand for broadband in rural
areas. Rural transport has declined, instead of one bus per day
in 1990 there are now none. People need to be able to communicate.
2. No provision exists, or is planned, in
Holderness.
3. The main obstacle to the provision of
broadband in rural areas is the monopoly of BT and their insistence
on using a line, which is too expensive to access remote houses.
In areas of low population, which are as flat as Holderness, radio
broadband is more sensible.
4. The Environment and Land-based sector
hub provides LearnDirect provision across England. It operates
as part of the Sector Skills Council. Since August 2001, until
August 2002, 4,108 learners have registered on 10,390 courses.
97% of registered learners are virtual learners.
This is a wonderful idea for those people who
live in far away places and are unable to travel to a LearnDirect
centre. I am a tutor for Lantra on line, and believe the main
stumbling block is the poor connectivity experienced by farmers
and other learners. It is so frustrating for them to have trouble
actually getting on line. The LearnDirect courses are quite large
and the system often crashes, particularly when learners are dealing
with assessments. Broadband would facilitate access to the internet,
and help the courses run more smoothly.
The Adult Learning Inspectorate published its
inspection report of the Environment and Land-based Sector Hub
on 9 September 2002.
Page 5 (5) The number of recorded achievements
and completions is poor.
Page 14 Other improvements needed "better
opportunities for isolated learners to communicate with other
learners".
Page 15 (24) Many learners leave courses early.
Since August 2001, 28% of registered learners have left 2155 courses.
This compares poorly with national averages for LearnDirect hubs.
5. Farmers are being encouraged to diversify
and the broadband tool is needed for them to compete in the wider
world of hi tech.
Sally Osgerby
24 February 2003
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