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UK broadband speed report 2011
This report was published in July 2011.
“The Digital Economy Act 2010 gave Ofcom a new duty to report to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport every three years on the state of the UK’s communications infrastructure. The first report is due later this year.
The first report will include information on the networks and services used by the majority of UK consumers. These include voice and data services carried over fixed and mobile networks as well as digital TV and radio broadcasts.
Government has placed particular importance on the availability and take up of broadband services. In a speech on 12 May 2011 Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, outlined government’s ambitions to provide all homes and businesses in the UK with access to at least 2Mbit/s broadband and that superfast broadband should be available to 90 per cent of people in each local authority area.
The government has allocated £530m to assist in providing the UK with the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015 and is encouraging local authorities to develop their own broadband plans setting out how superfast broadband access will be rolled-out in their area. Local authorities will be able to apply for a share of the £530m. should be available to 90 per cent of people in each local authority area.
Due to the importance placed on this matter, the Secretary of State has requested that Ofcom bring forward the publication of the data relating to fixed broadband networks and services that we were compiling for the Infrastructure Report. This data will be valuable to local authorities in developing their broadband plans and will thereby help accelerate the rate at which the benefits of improved broadband infrastructure can be delivered to UK citizens and consumers.”
UK Fixed Broadband Map 2011
“The UK’s first interactive map showing accurate information on broadband take-up, speeds and availability has been produced by Ofcom, using data provided by communications providers.
It forms part of Ofcom’s ongoing work to provide useful information about broadband in the UK.
Ofcom intends to publish a more detailed map later this year.”
Letting Children be Children – Report of an Independent Review of the Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood
This report was published in June 2011.
“The pressure on children to grow up takes two different but related forms: the pressure to take part in a sexualised life before they are ready to do so; and the commercial pressure to consume the vast range of goods and services that are available to children and young people of all ages.
Reg Bailey, Chief Executive of Mothers’ Union, has led a six-month independent review into the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood. He calls on businesses and broadcasters to play their part and protect children from the increasingly sexualised ‘wallpaper’ that surrounds them.
This Review aims to assess how children in this country are being pressured to grow up too quickly, and sets out some of the things that businesses and their regulators, as well as Government, can do to minimise the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood. There are more detailed recommendations in each chapter of the report.”
Scottish Index of Manufactured Exports, 2011 Q1
These statistics were published in July 2011.
Main Findings
“The seasonally adjusted Scottish index of manufactured exports (IME) grew by 3.9 per cent during the first quarter of 2011.
On an annual basis, comparing the most recent four quarters to the previous four quarters (4Q-on-4Q), the volume of manufactured export sales increased 2.2 per cent.”
Football Summit Joint Action Group report
This report was published in July 2011.
“The Joint Action Group (JAG), established following the Football Summit on 8 March, has worked constructively and in partnership to develop proposals and identify ways forward to support the delivery of the 8 commitments agreed at the Summit.
In all of our deliberations our aims have been clear: we have sought to develop proposals which will help to protect and maintain the good reputation of Scottish football and which will contribute positively to wider efforts to tackle social issues such as alcohol misuse, violence and bigotry.
Football is our national sport and it should reflect the best of Scotland – with supporters who are renowned for their pride and passion. The JAG recognises that the vast majority of Scottish football fans are a credit to the game and the clubs they support and it is a small minority who behave unacceptably.
The proposals put forward by the JAG are intended to enable supporters to maximise their enjoyment of the game while ensuring measures are put in place to tackle those whose behaviour tarnishes football’s reputation and our nation. Everyone involved in football, at all levels, has a part to play.
We believe that these proposals will begin to bring about that positive and lasting benefit to Scottish football and Scottish society. We are committed to driving this change forward.”
