Panel discussion following the Minister's Speech

Q from DC re 'refusniks' who don't have access.

Alun Michael - ActNow is a good example and so is that of a Shrewsbury group that campaigned. Need to wake people up to the advantages of broadband and the use of this stuff.

Question from Malcolm Corbett - looking to research the NotSpots - to what extent will a new divide open up between rural and urban areas. How can we tackle it?

Alan Michael - Let's not talk us down we've done a lot in 3 years and in rural areas - we can tackle the problem. Combination of public and private sector is key.

Ed Brown - Adit - rural areas are a particular problem. We aggregate public sector spend and leverage the market. If we can aggregate sufficeint demand we can make it attractive to commercial providers to supply.

David Willett - Avaya - example of not being able to download a college prospectus, bus pass, government websites have the best and worst examples of how to do it. How can we improve this?

Q - re older people and how to help them access?

Jeremy Warne from Symantec - smart cards and id cards - impact of this?

Briantree district councillor - village has 200 people and it's random whether they can get broadband or not. Need to get the whole population up to 'ordinary' broadband speeds - many people don't have that yet. What can be done?

Peter Radley - Q on aggregation and how it (didn't) work with previous aggregation attempts.

John Mills - Problems are small and isolated says Defra, we're on the case. We're optimistic about it. Speeds can be up to an 'acceptable' level.

Mark Swarbrick, DTI, intersting to see what WIMAX can deliver. Need to think it through carefully. Unlikely to intervene through public means.

DC - cover the 'joined up' nature of the issues:

Minister - older people when they retire can take up ICT and there's evidence of that now. Useful applications are available. Security is a big concern and it can be frightening - sometimes security is 'over the top' - needs to be appropriate.