Salmond & Stevenson Welcome Local Broadband Connections

MINTLAW AND ST FERGUS SET TO CONNECT

Banff & Buchan representatives Alex Salmond MP and Stewart Stevenson MSP have greeted with delight today’s news that BT are set to upgrade the Mintlaw and St Fergus telephone exchanges for Broadband.

The local MP and MSP have been at the forefront of the campaign to have Banff & Buchan enabled for Broadband and have had numerous meetings with BT and lobbied Government Ministers on the matter.

Speaking from Westminster, Mr Salmond said:

“When the targets were announced last month by BT I said then that this would be an opportunity to demonstrate what I always believed, which was that rural areas will have a higher uptake for Broadband than the average.

“It therefore comes as no surprise to me that Mintlaw and St Fergus are two of the first areas to reach their targets.

“Broadband provides a very important economic boost for Banff & Buchan which means that we can see an end to the disadvantage we have been suffering from in new technology. This is excellent news today and I’m sure other communities will not be far behind.”

Mr Stevenson added:

“I met with those running the Broadband campaign for Mintlaw last month so I am absolutely delighted that they have achieved their target – which was one of the bigger targets set by BT in the North-east – so quickly. They deserve our congratulations for helping to mobilise interest and support for Broadband locally.”

Local Surgeries For NE A Step Closer

Following his approach to the Community Fund to hold ‘lottery surgeries’ in the North-east, local MSP Stewart Stevenson has received a positive response to the idea.

Mr Stevenson had written to the Community Fund requesting that they arrange local events for voluntary and community groups as part of his ongoing efforts to secure a larger share of lottery funding for the North-east.

Now, the Community Fund have agreed to organise such events where there is sufficient local demand.

Welcoming the news, Mr Stevenson said:

“This is very good news from the Community Fund and I am pleased that they have responded positively to my request.

“What we need now are for local groups to come forward who feel they would benefit from a session with a lottery adviser.

“I would therefore urge local groups to contact my office on 01779 470444 or e-mail me at msp@stewartstevenson.net to register their interest and be kept informed of arrangements.”

Stevenson Welcomes Fall In Energy Transfer Errors

Banff and Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson welcomed new figures from the energy regulator, Ofgem, showing a sharp decrease in the number of consumers having their energy supply switched in error. The SNP MSP has been a vociferous campaigner against unauthorised transfers since being contacted by numerous constituents on the issue.

The Ofgem report showed that the number of customers having their supplier of gas or electricity switched by mistake had more than halved over the last year. It follows the introduction of a Customer Charter, which set tough targets for improved performance by energy companies.

Mr Stevenson, who met with Ofgem officials last week, said:

“I have had numerous approaches from constituents on this very distressing matter, many of which were elderly. With the unacceptable situation of unrequested transfers, this may well have an impact on any customer’s wish to change energy supplier in the future in order to get a better deal.

“Fortunately, the Ofgem report demonstrates that finally some progress in the matter is beginning to happen and that a lesser amount of mistaken transfers are occuring.

“However, although the number of mistakes are decreasing there is still some way to go in this matter which Ofgem identifies. Some companies have been more successful than others in dealing with these mistakes. The companies which have failed to meet Ofgem’s targets must be reined in, and in some cases, fines may need to be issued to ensure that next year, these figures are even lower."

Notes: The Report by Ofgem shows that in August 2003, the rate of mistakes 1.14% of gas transfers and 1.35% of electricity transfers. This compares to 2.5% in gas and 3.9% in electricity reported in August 2002.