This week I asked Ministers to commission Shropshire SMEs to roll out superfast broadband to rural areas where large providers do not operate.

More than 220 of the hardest to reach homes and business premises in Shropshire have already received funding to get faster broadband under the Government's £210m Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme.

I am delighted that, in response to my question, the Government has now confirmed that it will invite small and medium-sized businesses in Shropshire to bid for contracts to roll out gigabit broadband across those parts of the county which do not have it.