Maria Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary and Helen Goodman MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Media and Communications, in response to Government’s announcement that an extra £10m will become available to pilot alternative broadband technologies in remote areas, said:

Maria Eagle MP, Shadow Environment Secretary, said:

“The government has failed our rural communities with a broadband roll out that is two years behind schedule. This announcement is a confession that the Rural Community Broadband Fund has failed and they are not delivering the benefits of broadband to rural areas quick enough.”

Helen Goodman MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Media and Communications said:

“The Government should implement Labour’s plan to switch half the money – £75m – from the super-connected cities programme to a digital inclusion programme. That could help some two million people get online, delivering the social and economic improvements rural areas have long been waiting for under this Government.”