10. To ask the Scottish Government whether there have been discussions regarding bringing forward work on the roll-out of superfast broadband for Kirkliston and South Queensferry scheduled for late 2015. (S4O-03750)

The Scottish Government is working with its local authority investment partners and BT to bring fibre broadband to more than 600,000 homes across Scotland over the next three years. Given the scale of the engineering challenge and the major infrastructure works that are required, not all areas can benefit at the same time. There are no changes to report on the dates for the works that are scheduled for Kirkliston and South Queensferry. However, the programme is focused on maximising the efficiency of the roll-out to optimise fibre coverage and improve deployment timescales across all areas of Scotland.

Does the Cabinet secretary agree that areas such as Kirkliston have suffered as a result of the failure of the United Kingdom Government’s urban broadband fund to comply with European state aid rules?

I am aware of the range of issues that are experienced by households and businesses with poor internet connectivity, and I am sympathetic in that regard. We are working to address the issue and to provide improved connectivity to as many premises in Scotland as possible in the shortest possible time, including in the most rural areas.

The Government’s digital Scotland superfast broadband programme complies with European state-aid rules, under which an Intervention can be made only in areas where commercial market failure is demonstrated. The scheme is designed to optimise coverage and efficiency while ensuring that there is equity across Scotland and that no areas are left behind. When the programme is complete in 2017, more than 95 per cent of Scotland will have access to fibre broadband.