Will Enterprise Zone fibre broadband plans help the economy?

The government's plans to offer discounts on fibre optic broadband and business rates at Enterprise Zones across the UK will not help the economy, Ed Miliband has said.

Speaking to the Nottingham Post, the Labour leader insisted the plans - outlined in George Osborne's Budget speech last week - do not go far enough to reverse the damage caused by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition's cuts.

"It is very hard for the private sector to create the jobs that we need to replace those being lost in the public sector," he remarked.

Instead, Mr Miliband favours the introduction of a tax on bankers' bonuses to boost businesses, build houses and help young people find work.

Under the government's plans, 21 Enterprise Zones will be created across England in areas such as Leeds, Liverpool, London and Greater Manchester, as well as Nottingham.

Companies will be given guarantees that super-fast broadband will be rolled out in the area thanks to a "supportive" planning environment and public money, if needed.