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Broadband: Scotland

Volume 470: debated on Wednesday 23 January 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2007, Official Report, column 1061W, on Broadband: Scotland, what the location is of each of the clusters; in which parliamentary constituency in Scotland each cluster falls; and if he will make a statement. (176946)

The Scottish Executive has completed preliminary research on broadband reach in Scotland, which was published in December 2006. They estimate that between 7,000 and 25,000 homes cannot access DSL bandwidths in excess of 512Kb/s. These are scattered throughout Scotland. There is “clustering” where local conditions affect a number of premises in the same way, and the Scottish Executive is aware of around 50 such “clusters” (of 10 or more homes) as shown in table.

The Scottish Executive is currently undertaking a data verification exercise of all known demand in connection with Scottish broadband reach project which is expected to be complete by the end of this month.

Cluster location

BT exchange

(Westminster) constituency

Strathrusdale

Alness

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

Glen Creran

Appin

Argyll and Bute

Assynt

Assynt

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

Second Coast

Aultbea

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Rowerdennan

Balmaha

Stirling

Throsk

Bannockburn

Stirling

Aigas

Beauly

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Craik

Borthwickbrae

Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk

Forgandenny

Bridge of Earn

Ochil and South Perthshire

Drumfearn

Broadford

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Luib

Broadford

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Strathbrora

Brora

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

Cortachy, Glen Prosen

Cortachy

Angus

Craigmarloch

Cumbernauld

Inverclyde

Carron Valley

Denny

Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch

Kilcoy

Dingwall

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Kinkell

Dingwall

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Mulbuie

Dingwall

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Scoraig, Badcaul

Dundonnell

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Dunans

Glendaruel

Argyll and Bute

Arnisdale

Glenelg

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Inverfaraig

Gorthleck

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey

Whitebridge

Gorthleck

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey

Stromfirth

Gott

Orkney and Shetland

Nairnside

Inverness Culloden

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey

Jura

Jura

Argyll and Bute

Ardeonaig

Killin

Stirling

Dalqueich

Kinross

Ochil and South Perthshire

Kinggoldrum

Kirriemuir

Angus

Ewes

Langholm

Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale

Glenuig

Lochailort

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Dunadd

Lochgilphead

Argyll and Bute

Knoydart

Mallaig

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Eigg

Mallaig

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Canna

Mallaig

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Harperrig

Mid Calder

Livingston

Drimnin

Morvern

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Glenbuck

Muirkirk

Kilmarnock and Loudoun

Cove, Inverasdale

Poolewe

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Bridgend

Port Charlotte

Argyll and Bute

Boyndie

Portsoy

Banff and Buchan

Rousay

Rousay

Orkney and Shetland

North Sanday

Sanday

Orkney and Shetland

Kylesku, Kylestrom

Scourie

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

Invergloy, Clunes

Spean Bridge

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

South Ronaldsay

St. Margaret’s Hope

Orkney and Shetland

Corgarff

Strathdon

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

Balquhidder

Strathyre

Stirling

West Burrafirth

Walls

Orkney and Shetland