That the Parliament notes the release of the Audit Scotland report, Superfast broadband for Scotland: Further Progress Update, which highlights issues such as 25% of rural premises, including in the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency, being unable to receive speeds of at least 10 Mb/s; understands that, although ministers have an ambition to achieve 100% coverage of 30Mb/s, the report highlights that "it will be difficult for the Scottish Government to deliver its ambition by the end of 2021"; notes the recommendations of the Auditor General, including calls for the Scottish Government to publish clear timescales for the R100 by summer 2019, to have a skilled workforce in place for the duration of the roll-out and to establish a contract management process to ensure value for money; understands that the report shows that the Scottish Borders has the second worst average broadband speed in Scotland and the worst on the Scottish mainland, and calls on the Scottish Government to implement the report's recommendations.
Supported by:
Jeremy Balfour, Michelle Ballantyne, Bill Bowman, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Peter Chapman, Maurice Corry, Murdo Fraser, Jamie Greene, Alison Harris, Liam Kerr, Gordon Lindhurst, Tom Mason, Margaret Mitchell, Edward Mountain, Colin Smyth, Alexander Stewart, Annie Wells