Thank you to all those who have written to express their views on the Prime Minister and ‘partygate.’ I have carefully noted all the points made and will consider again in the light of Sue Gray’s report and Boris Johnson’s response to it which are not yet available at the time of writing.
I have just heard Mr Johnson at the despatch box curing covid restrictions in the light of promising data and the success of the vaccination programme. He is right to do so. I asked if he will reverse the decision to sack NHS workers who, unwisely but nevertheless, will not be jabbed. That’s because the most recent evidence covered in a leaked memo from officials to ministers does not sustain the policy which will simply lose thousands of staff from an already hard pressed service. I spoke with the PM afterwards and he seemed sympathetic. Hopefully there’ll be a rescrub.
The Commons Public Accounts Committee has just reported on the rollout of broadband. Unfortunately it looks like delivered to hard to reach places will not happen within the original timeframe. The goal of nationwide super fast coverage by 2030 now excludes 134,000 premises in the hardest to reach areas, that is where there is no commercial case as far as providers are concerned. So, those areas, including some of our own rural locations, if they are to be connected cannot rely on commercial operators like BT or Openreach. That means the government has to act to avoid digital inequality and to rural proof super fast rollout.
Ministers now have to produce a response to the broadband report. In the meantime I will be writing for an account of how they intend to deal with the issue particularly given the trend for working from home accelerated by covid and the need to promote rural small businesses, many of which by their very nature are reliant on credible broadband.
I have written to ministers following news that the great A303 transformation we were promised has been deprioritised to find out what on earth is going on. If it is the case that it will no longer be a fast route into the southwest within a recognisable timeframe, can we please have a roundabout at Willoughby Hedge where the A303 meets the A350? The arrangement at the moment is perilous and there are knock on consequences for heavy traffic rumbling through villages.