Action call over Sunderland broadband access

Figures from the House of Commons library showed just four per cent of households in Sunderland Central could receive speeds of one gigabit per second in September 2020.

This coverage differs greatly throughout the parliamentary constituency – from 23.8% of homes in Seaburn, to none in 10 other areas.

In Houghton and Sunderland South just 16.2% of homes could receive speeds of one gigabit per second – ranging from from 77.2% in Shiney Row, to none in three other areas.

In Washington and Sunderland West the figure is just one per cent – ranging from 6.2% of homes in Harraton, Rickleton and Fatfield, to none in seven other areas.

A group of MPs has warned the Government's pledge of gigabit broadband for 85% of the country by 2025 will not be met.

According to the figures, just 27% of UK homes can access the technology, but more recent data from Think Broadband had this at 37% by January.

The Public Accounts Committee criticised the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for not admitting sooner that it would not meet a Conservative election pledge of gigabit broadband connectivity across the entire country by 2025.

In November the Government revealed it was rowing back on the target, aiming for at least 85% instead.

Meg Hillier, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said: “Due to a litany of planning and implementation failures at DCMS, those promises are slipping farther and farther out of reach.

"With the country and economy being locked down, the Government’s promises on digital connectivity are more important than ever.”

The DCMS said it did not agree with the MPs' report, claiming it contained some inaccuracies.

A DCMS spokesman said: "Gigabit capable broadband is being rolled out rapidly – from one in ten households in 2019 to one in three today.

"We expect that half of all households will have access to gigabit speeds by the end of this year, and the UK is deploying at a faster build rate than comparable countries."