'National fibre effort' championed

A government effort to create a UK-wide fibre network would reduce the "digital divide" and help the economy, one industry commentator has suggested.

Michael Cross, writing in the Guardian, explained that there has been a "remarkable consensus" about the fact that something can, and should, be done about digital exclusion.

He also noted that Alistair Darling, the chancellor, has said that Britain must follow a Keynesian method of economics to deal with the slowing economy - namely by spending more on public works.

Mr Cross cited a national fibre network as a potential project, despite recent reports of large government debt.

"There's that gaping hole in the public accounts, but there's also a search for Keynesian investments to see us through the bad times," he wrote.

"Few projects would meet the bill as neatly as a national effort to provide fibre-to-the-home broadband, and few would do more to promote digital inclusion."

The schools minister, Jim Knight, yesterday announced a £30.3 million package which would form part of the government's "digital divide" action plan.