MP was just trying to point score

I am writing this in response to the article headlined‘Let’s follow England’s example’ (Observer, July 282017) in which Tory MP for Stirling Stephen Kerr calls on the Scottish Government to replicate in Scotland measures being proposed by the Westminster Government to boost broadband speeds.

Surely being a politician, Mr Kerr should know which policies are devolved to the Scottish Parliament and which are reserved to Westminster? Broadband roll out is one of the reserved areas.

If he had stood in the House of Commons and asked for the power to be devolved to ensure the Scottish government can address the challenges that face rural areas and businesses then fine. He didn’t. He tried to point score against Scottish government.

I feel you, as a trusted informer to the Stirling area, should perhaps have some kind of retraction for this article and obtain more information for such issues before printing as this can be easily seen as misleading your readers.

A. Cameron By email.

Editor’s note: Mr Kerr was referring to a proposal, currently under consideration at Westminister, to remove business rates from broadband infrastructure projects.

Asked by the Observer to comment on Mr Kerr’s remarks, a spokesman for the Scottish Government said Ministers had previously confirmed the intention to match the UK Government’s business rates relief for new fibre broadband subject to confirmation of the detail.

The spokesman added: “We are committed to delivering 100 per cent superfast broadband access across Scotland by 2021. This is the most ambitious commitment in the UK. We are also engaging with industry bodies ahead of our forthcoming response to the Barclay review of rates, to ensure Scotland is the best place in the UK for telecoms investment.”