To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to require Ofcom to promote training in the telecommunications industry to support the rollout of and access to a universal broadband service. (323539)

This Department has no such plans at this stage.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to extend the general access fund for the roll-out of broadband services to mobile as well as fixed line operators; and when he expects the new arrangements to be operable. (323540)

The Government are currently consulting on the proposals for the Next Generation Fund, which includes an explanation of the various technologies that may be used to deliver superfast broadband to 90 per cent. of UK households. Further decisions will be announced in due course.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to make access to 2Mbps minimum speeds for universal broadband access mandatory. (323573)

Both the Digital Britain Report and the 2009 Budget stated that

“The Government will pursue Universal Service in broadband, at a speed of 2 Megabits per second, by no later than 2012. This target will allow virtually everyone to experience the benefits of broadband, including the increasing delivery of public services online. We are currently working with the newly formed body Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) to take this work forward.”