HOUSE OF COMMONS

Please reply to:
The Labour Hall
Newport Road. New Bradwell
Milton Keynes MK13 0AA
Telephone: 01908 225522
Fax: 01908 320731

www.phyllisstarkey.labour.co.uk

Dr Neil Cutland
Shenley Lodge
MILTON KEYNES
 

12th May 2006
 

Dear Neil

As you may have heard, a delegation from the Broadband Action Group, plus Jawad Siddiqui of MKTV, myself and the MP for North East Milton Keynes, met with Tessa Jowell, the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport on Monday 8th May to discuss access to broadband and digital TV.

Tessa Jowell responded to the concerns raised by the delegation by committing to:

• Contacting both BT and NTL to clearly establish their respective responsibilities
• Ask Digital UK (set up by government to oversee the digital switchover) to then assess the remaining obstacles in Milton Keynes to universal access to digital TV

The Minister's response was very helpful, but her responsibilities are largely related to TV and broadband is also the responsibility of the Department for Trade and Industry. I have therefore followed up this meeting by writing directly to the Prime Minister and asking him to ensure that the two departments work closely together to make sure that any solution addresses the problems both of digital TV and of broadband access itself.

I will keep you informed of developments.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Phyllis Starkey MP Milton Keynes South West