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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what sums have been paid to (a) NTL and (b) BT to assist in the rollout of broadband services; when such payments were made; and if she will make a statement. [117716] Mr. Timms :[pursuant to the answer, 18 June 2003, Official Report, c. 324W]: In that answer I stated that "Under the Cornwall ActNow project, assisted by EC Objective 1 funding, BT received £237,225 from DTI between December 2001 and August 2002, as a result of a tender process to upgrade exchanges for broadband in a region where such investment would also not be commercially viable". I should now like to clarify the position. The source of the capital funding for ActNow was EU Objective 1 funding. In addition, some revenue funding was provided via EU Objective 1, other public contributors and the South West of England Regional Development Agency from funds provided by Central Government. None of this funding was paid direct to BT. The applicant for both the capital and revenue funding for ActNow was Cornwall Enterprise, a part of Cornwall county council, on behalf of all public partners in the project. BT was one of a number of partners with a role in fulfilling the project. Cornwall Enterprise also took responsibility for monitoring BT's performance.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

117716; 409 c369-70W;409 c369W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Broadband British Telecom Finance Internet EU grants and loans NTL

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk