'BETTER TOGETHER' ON BROADBAND
A project to bring high-speed broadband to the Highlands and Islands could not have been achieved in an independent Scotland, communications minister Ed Vaizey claimed today.
He loudly affirmed the UK was "better together" as he replied to a question from Scottish Nationalist Angus MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) during Culture questions in the Commons.
Mr MacNeil asked whether the minister would agree to a meeting with him and other interested rural and isle MPs to discuss "proper 4G coverage on a Swedish or Finnish model", which he said could help the aims of both comprehensive mobile and fast broadband coverage in the coming years.
Mr Vaizey insisted broadband was going "extremely well" in the UK because we are "better together, working together with Scotland and with Wales to roll out broadband and 4G coverage".
He added: "He (Mr MacNeil) should not be so modest - we outstrip a lot of the Scandinavian countries.
"We have just laid 400km (250 miles) of undersea cable to the Highlands and Islands. That couldn't have been done unless it was the UK Government working with the devolved Government to bring broadband to our rural areas. We are better together."
