No Government Cash to Develop Broadband in Social Housing – Shapps

Grant Shapps has said the Government is not looking at releasing cash to help social housing tenants gain access to broadband internet. Mr Shapps had promised the Government would end the “digital apartheid” that sees nearly half of social tenants having no access to the internet at home. Quizzed about whether the pledge would be backed by Government funds, Mr Shapps told the BBC: “No we think this can be done by sort of enlightened self interest. In effect, it doesn’t necessarily cost that much to get people online but the impact of it can be great.” He explained that landlords should ensure their tenants can access the internet. He said that with the launch of HomeSwap Direct - the website that helps social tenants move from any home to any other home - providing broadband to all social tenants would also be in the landlords' interest. Read more on 24dash.