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Mr. Evans: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had with (a) the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and (b) Ofcom on NESTA's proposal to extend the geographical scope of provision of high-speed broadband. [251207]

Mr. McFadden [holding answer 28 January 2009]: I have not had recent discussions with the NESTA or Ofcom on NESTA's proposal to extend the geographical scope of provision of high-speed broadband.

Mr. Evans: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the likely effects on the economy of nationwide access to high-speed broadband. [251210]

Mr. McFadden [holding answer 28 January 2009]: As part of the Digital Britain report the Department has made interim assessments of the likely effects on the economy of nationwide access to high-speed broadband by reviewing the range of reports and analysis available on this subject.

I recognise the potential importance of high-speed broadband and its potential to positively affect the UK's competitiveness. The Government believe that investment in new broadband networks opens the way to a whole range of job opportunities, both during and post construction of the new networks. The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) estimates that universal super-fast broadband in the UK could directly create 600,000 new ICT jobs and add £18 billion to GDP over four years with even larger indirect benefit. The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation published a similar study of the impact investment in network infrastructures could have in the USA.

It is important therefore for the Government, under the Digital Britain Report to examine the impact of network improvements can have on the UK's employment and competitiveness in the digital economy.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Mr. Swire: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he is taking to ensure high speed broadband provision in rural areas, with specific reference to East Devon; and if he will make a statement. [242160]

Mr. McFadden: The Government recently published the interim report on Digital Britain, which aims to help accelerate the rate of growth, and cement the UK’s
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position as a world leader in the knowledge and learning economy. This set out our intention to develop plans for a digital Universal Service Commitment to be effective by 2012. Alongside the interim report, the Government also published their response to the Caio Review on broadband, agreeing to the recommendations in that report and setting out how we will act to implement them.

In addition, Ofcom is continuing to consult on the appropriate regulatory framework for next generation broadband.

Mr. Evans: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent representations he has received on the extension of provision of high-speed broadband access to rural areas. [251206]

Mr. McFadden [holding answer 28 January 2009]: Since the announcement of the Digital Britain Report on 17 October, the Department has received representations on extension of provision of high-speed broadband access to rural areas in the form of correspondence from a Member of the Scottish Parliament and Members of Parliament, on behalf of constituents and from their own interest, as well as a parliamentary questions.

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which websites are operated by his Department in addition to its main website; and what the operating budget for those websites is. [251422]

Mr. McFadden: Below is a list of websites operated by the Department in addition to the main www.berr.gov.uk site.

Regarding operating budgets, the Department does not hold this information centrally, and it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. As of April 2009, all Government Departments will measure website costs in line with guidance from the Central Office of Information.


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Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which websites were operated by his Department in addition to its main website since its inception. [251482]

Mr. McFadden: Following is a list of websites operated or formerly operated by the Department for Business. Many of the sites listed are no longer in operation or have been transferred to other Government Departments as a result of machinery of government changes.


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Closed or content moved to other Government Departments:


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Departmental Public Appointments

Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which of the public appointments for which his Department is responsible are due to be (a) renewed and (b) filled in the next 24 months; what the (i) remit, (ii) salary, (iii) political restriction, (iv) eligibility requirement and (v) timetable for each appointment is; and what records his Department keeps in respect of such appointments. [254229]

Mr. McFadden: Information on appointments made by the Department is published online at:

More detailed information about individual appointments is set out in the relevant body’s Annual Report. Vacancies may be advertised on the Cabinet Office Public Appointments website at:

The process for making a public appointment, including guidance on political activity and eligibility criteria, follows the Cabinet Office publication “Making and Managing Public Appointments”. For appointments regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, the appointments process also complies with the “Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies”. Copies are in the Libraries of the House.

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