Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has criticised an admission by the Scottish Government that targets on delivering superfast broadband are likely to be missed.
The R100 programme, the SNP’s flagship policy to deliver superfast broadband to 100% of premises across Scotland, has been subject to a number of delays.
The admission made last week to the Scottish Parliament shows that contracts for the programme will now not be signed until the end of 2019. This is despite a pledge by Rural Affairs and Connectivity Secretary Fergus Ewing to step down if the deadline for reaching 100% by 2021 is not met.
Earlier this year, figures from a survey conducted by consumer group Which? showed northern Scotland as having some of the worst broadband connection speeds in the United Kingdom, with Moray as the worst performing mainland local authority in Scotland.
In 2017, the UK Government criticised SNP Ministers for repeated delays after money granted to the Scottish Government in 2014 for broadband was still unused.
Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
“The R100 programme was heralded as a way to tackle slow broadband in some of the hardest-to-reach parts of Scotland – particularly in remote and rural communities like many of those across Moray.
“But despite the assurances of SNP Ministers that everything was on track, we now know that not only has no work been started, but that contracts will not even be signed until at least the end of the year.
“Surveys like those from Which? have suggested that Moray has some of the poorest broadband connectivity in the UK, which will come as no supply to many residents.
“We know are often challenges in delivering services to parts of the Highlands and Islands. But Moray needs better broadband – it’s vital for both individuals, for businesses and for the delivery or support of an increasing number of public services. Without it, local people are being denied access to services others across Scotland take for granted.
“Unfortunately, as another delivery deadline risks being missed, many local people will be coming increasingly concerned that this is just another example of SNP election promises failing to be delivered.”
