To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what steps the Government plan to take to ensure universal availability of broadband access in the UK; (280044)

The Digital Britain Final Report, published on 16 June, set out the Government’s plans to provide a Universal Service Commitment for broadband at a speed of 2Mbps, and the Government will invest approximately £200 million of public funds to support this. The Government will establish an arm’s length body, the Network Design and Procurement Group, who will be responsible for the procurement and delivery of this commitment.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department has allocated for the roll-out of high-speed broadband in the next three years. (280046)

This Department has not allocated central funding for expansion of high-speed broadband in the next three years. The Digital Britain Final Report, published on 16 June, set out the Government’s plans to ensure the delivery of high-speed broadband which includes a 50p levy per month on all fixed telephone lines to create a Next General Fund to ensure that high speed broadband reaches the Final third of the country that the market alone will not deliver to.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the likely effect on (a) gross domestic product per capita and (b) average personal income of connecting all rural households to broadband internet at a speed of at least 2Mbps in each of the next five years. (281744)

[holding answer 24 June 2009]: Rural households connected to broadband speeds of at least 2Mbps can expect to benefit from improved access to public and government services offered online. They will also benefit from the opportunity to access a wider range of goods and services than before, some of which may not be available in the high street, and at potentially lower prices. Further, connection to 2Mbps broadband will help to reduce the risk to rural households of social exclusion.

The Department is committed to publishing a full impact assessment containing estimates of the expected costs and benefits once the procurement process has taken place.