East Midlands MEP welcomes boost for rural broadband as EU finally authorises UK state aid

East Midlands Conservative MEP Emma McClarkin has this week welcomed a ruling by the European Commission that a proposed UK support scheme for investing in rural and remote broadband is in line with state aid rules.

The decision follows lobbying by Conservative MEPs – including Miss McClarkin – and UK Culture Secretary Maria Miller. It also comes just a few weeks after Miss McClarkin co-authored a letter to the Culture Secretary, urging the Government to ensure that superfast broadband quickly covers the whole of the UK.

The UK wants to set up an umbrella scheme that would deliver around £1.5 billion to 140 broadband support schemes in areas where there is market failure in providing the much-needed high-speed connection.

The approval has been a long time coming, and although Conservative MEPs are pleased that the correct outcome has been reached, they have been critical of the delay inside the European Commission.

Last week, Conservative MEPs met the Culture Secretary to discuss ways of moving approval of the scheme forward.

Miss McClarkin said:

“I have been calling for urgency on delivery of broadband for a long time. The UK needs urgent investment in broadband infrastructure. We have real problems in rural areas of the East Midlands and need to ensure communities are getting connected, not left behind.

“I’m delighted that this approval will enable the UK to get on with delivering the broadband network that we need, in order to grow our economy and support businesses of all size, but particularly small rural businesses. However I do believe that the process of approval has taken too long, and this is something the European Commission needs to look at for the future.

“It’s time for the UK to get up to speed!”