By editorial@silicon.com, 28 November 2000 19:00
NEWS In an introduction to the White Paper Our Countryside: The Future, published today, deputy prime minister John Prescott and agriculture secretary Nick Brown say the government wants to subsidise local facilities and invest in "technology access points like internet kiosks". The ministers say they are setting up 100 internet access and learning points across the country. The aim is stated to be: "So that people in rural areas have easy and convenient use of information and communications technology to help them access, for instance, health advice, employment opportunities, legal and court services. "We are stimulating wider broadband coverage to make high speed internet access and business data transfer available in more rural areas," the report says. "We will raise skill levels, using the internet to extend training opportunities." Under the subtitle A fair deal for rural England, the report also promises more investment in small businesses to create new jobs and more workspaces in small towns. Over £100m from government and European funding will be available to market towns, while rural businesses will be given support by the Small Business Service. By Geoffrey Davies
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