CONVENTION OF HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS PRESSES NEED FOR DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY

Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP, Alasdair Allan, today took part in the Convention of the Highlands and Islands which met in Stornoway Town Hall and brought together representatives of communities from Argyll to Shetland and four Government Ministers. High on their agenda was ensuring the rollout of Fibre Broadband benefitted as many communities as possible.

Alasdair Allan commented:

“Much of today was given to the concern of people throughout the Highlands and Islands to ensure BT delivers on providing a better broadband connection for all. The Convention will now write collectively to BT to underline this point. Deputy First Minister John Swinney emphasised that the roll out of fibre broadband in the Highlands and Islands today is as important as the provision of mains electricity was in the 1950s. This fact is reflected in the major investment which the Scottish Government has made in rolling out Fibre.

“The meeting also covered the area of fuel poverty, where John Swinney undertook to work closely with the Comhairle and other local authorities about the need to ensure hard-to-insulate houses continue to receive attention.

“The Convention took some important issues today and I hope that BT and other agencies listen to what they have to say.”

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