Articles and Speeches / March 2006
Single Payment Scheme
For once, I can speak about agricultural matters without declaring an interest, because payments in Wales have already been made, so I am unaffected by the problem. However, it does not in any way lessen my concern for the farming community in England, which has been so badly served. Indeed, a series of mistakes has been made not only by DEFRA but by the Rural Payments Agency.
Published 30th March 2006
Broadband in Rural Wales
I shall start on an upbeat note, to please the Minister if I possibly can, by telling hon. Members that the Welsh Assembly announced today that, working with BT, it intends to invest nearly £100 million to ensure that the 35 exchanges in Wales not currently upgraded are upgraded in the near future. Nine of those exchanges—more than a quarter—are in my constituency. However, as the hon. Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mr. Crabb) said, the simple fact that an exchange is upgraded does not necessarily mean that any number of the people served by it will benefit from broadband.
Published 16th March 2006
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