State fibre optic broadband funding could be withdrawn

Up to £530 million of state fibre optic broadband funding could be scrapped if councils drag their feet over the plans for the technology, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has warned.

According to the Guardian, Mr Hunt told a group of cross-party MPs that councils have until the end of February to submit their broadband strategies, which will detail how they intend to deliver super-fast speeds to 90 per cent of the population by 2015.

If broadband contracts are not signed by the end of the year, some councils could be prevented from accessing their share of the £530 million funding pot, he stressed.

The politician explained: "I do not want this to get bogged down in paper procurement."

His comments come just days after Communications Minister Ed Vaizey said the government is confident of achieving its broadband goals, insisting its national strategy is currently "on target".

As many as 250,000 British homes are still unable to access broadband.