To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many households in (a) Essex and (b) Castle Point have had access to high-speed broadband services in each year since 1997. (279336)

The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the chief executive’s letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many companies offered high-speed broadband services to households in (a) Essex and (b) Castle Point in each year since 1997. (279338)

This Department does not hold records in regard to the numbers of companies which offer high speed broadband services in Essex and Castle Point in each year since 1997.