Tony Baldry MP

Tony Baldry is Conservative MP for Banbury/Bicester which covers most of our catchment area.

Dear Mr Tate
Thank you for your recent letter.

I think everyone appreciates the benefits of Broadband and I think the technology has got greater publicity of late. I am sure you will not be surprised to learn that Broadband is currently fairly high on the political agenda. I have supported a number of parliamentary motions in relation to brining Broadband to more rural areas.

I think all of this stems from the Prime Minister saying that he wants to see 50% of the UK have broadband by 2005 and everyone to have access by 2010. I think this necessarily means that urban areas will be the first on the list for Broadband. Clearly Wroxton comes within the category.

I think BT themselves have been very active within Parliament at promoting this issue. They have held, for example, several briefing meeting with Mops regionally only last month.

I am also aware that other rural areas, such as some villages and town near Cleethorpes have been turning a similarly active campaign, run by local residents and local businesses, to get broadband. They all have websites and it may well be worth Broadband for Wroxton getting in touch with them as part of a wider campaign for broadband to come to rural areas more quickly.

I will also ask my Research Assistant to get in touch with the parliamentary Officer at BT to see if they might help further your campaign. Let me get back to you on this one just as soon as I am able.

Original letter

Tony has also launched his own campaign, via his newsletter.