Official Report 479KB pdf
Agenda item 3 is consideration of the “Brussels Bulletin”. Do members have any questions about, comments on or clarification that they seek in relation to the information in the bulletin?
On page 7, we are told that there has been further progress on broadband infrastructure matters, and that the European Union is making efforts to reduce the costs of physically installing the infrastructure—in other words, digging up roads and laying cable. Although that is a consequence of the reduction in the provision that has been set aside in the budget for such work, it is nevertheless a step in the right direction if the Commission is trying to reduce the costs of deploying high-speed networks throughout Europe. Committee members have a continuing interest in that.
Indeed, and we are currently putting together a briefing on the subject.
That is super. I really appreciate that.
We will bring that to the committee in the near future.
Can we investigate the possibility of specialist additional funding for rural areas, given that Scotland’s rural areas are the most deprived with regard to this service? If we are employing someone to assist us and give us advice on European matters and funding, can we also find out whether there are any additional means of funding our rural communities to assist them in acquiring such connections?
Yes, we can ask the clerks to look at that.
On Hanzala Malik’s point about broadband, it is all very well talking about lowering costs, but if you do not have broadband in the first place, you will not give a hoot about the cost. There are so many places in the Highlands that do not have it, including where I live. We cannot get it.
That is not only the case in the Highlands.
There are such places all over Scotland.
Jamie, it was your Government that wanted the cut in the budget that led to this.
What?
It was your Government that negotiated a cut in the budget that led—
No, I think that you will find that the EU cut the budget for telecommunications—
The Prime Minister negotiated the cut in the budget that led to that consequence.
That is blatant nonsense.
I am sorry, but it is true.
The detailed paper that is going to come before us will, I hope, include the costs in the budget, so perhaps we can settle the matter then.
I can show you people who are using their Arqiva satellite dishes, or whatever they are, for feeding hens, because they are that useless.
That is novel.
There is one law for the central belt and another law elsewhere.
Hanzala Malik’s point about rural exclusion is well made, as are Jamie McGrigor’s points. Given that the EU has drifted further in its target for reducing the number of people at risk of falling into poverty and social exclusion, it is an important matter for the committee.
Are we happy to bring the “Brussels Bulletin” to the attention of the other committees?
Yes, but who we are going to ask about the possibility of finding specialist funding for rural areas in Scotland?
The clerks and the Scottish Parliament information centre will look at that.
I want to ask about the process of bringing such matters to the attention of other committees. I have been on the Public Audit Committee for seven years now and I have never seen anything from the “Brussels Bulletin” brought to its attention. How does a matter get brought to the attention of the Public Audit Committee?
It goes to the committee clerks.
Nothing has ever appeared.
I believe that the “Brussels Bulletin” is sent to all the committee clerking teams, with the areas relating to their committees highlighted. A number of times, we have written specifically to the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee and the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee, and I suggest that we make a more assertive point to those two committees about broadband and rural exclusion. I know that both are doing work on the matter, and it might inform the information that our committee receives.
The bulletin is helpful and I would like to get it to members. It does not come to me as a member of the Public Audit Committee.
I suggest that it is worth asking the Public Audit Committee clerks about that.
I shall.
We have extensive work to discuss in private and I know that members want to get away quickly. Are members content for us to pass the bulletin on, with the caveats about the two pieces of work that need to be looked at and drawing the attention of the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee and the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee, in particular, to the items that have been discussed?
Thank you very much. We now move into private session.