MPs have called on the UK Government to intervene after Scottish ministers admitted that the roll-out of superfast broadband would be delayed by several years.
Far North MP Jamie Stone has urged the Treasury to carry out an audit of the Scottish Government’s broadband programme after it emerged the £600million flagship scheme was not on course to deliver by 2021.
The call came after Connectivity Minister Paul Wheelhouse said there would be a two-year delay to superfast broadband delivery in central and south Scotland.
A legal challenge to the procurement process to cover the north meant Mr Wheelhouse declined to even hint at a date for full coverage in the Highlands, islands and the north-east.
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing promised in 2018 to resign if the R100 target date of 2021 was missed.
Mr Stone said: “The Scottish Government has utterly failed my constituents when it comes to their broadband promises.
“A lack of access to functioning, let alone superfast, broadband in the far north greatly disadvantages Universal Credit claimants, farmers and crofters, businesses – all who desperately need quality online access.
“The practical delivery of broadband is the responsibility of the Scottish Government and some funding for this has come from Westminster. I have therefore written to the Chancellor requesting an audit of the money given to the Scottish Government.”
In his letter to Sajid Javid Mr Stone argues that the Treasury now “has a value for money issue with the Scottish Government”.
He writes: “I therefore request that the Treasury now undertakes a full audit of where the Scottish broadband money is going and why it is not reaching the targets that it should.”
