SANDRA Osborne MP has had recent talks with Duncan Nisbet, Senior Stakeholder Manager of Digital Scotland, to seek information on progress of Superfast Broadband Programme in Ayr Carrick and Cumnock constituency.

Digital Scotland’s Superfast Broadband programme will increase coverage of Fibre Broadband to around 95% of Scotland’s homes and businesses by the end of 2017. The programme is in two related parts – the first covering the Highlands and Islands and the second covering the rest of Scotland. The two contracts have a combined value of around £410 million, with both being delivered in partnership with BT following separate procurements. The rest of Scotland contract was signed in July 2013.

Sandra said: ‘Superfast Broadband is hugely important, particularly in an age where more and more people are working from home and large numbers of people do their shopping online and watch television programmes online.

"I was pleased to learn from my meeting that work is already taking place in parts of my constituency including Cumnock, New Cumnock and Ayr.

‘I will continue to lobby on this issue to ensure that this programme benefits as much of Ayr Carrick and Cumnock constituency as quickly as possible.’ "Further local detail will be provided by Digital Scotland as plans advance and anyone interested in the roll-out can keep up to date and obtain more detail at www.digitalscotland.org, ‘