£6-a-year broadband tax ‘to become law’

A controversial broadband tax is set to become law before the next election, charging 50 pence a month to everyone with a fixed line telephone. Speaking at a debate in London, Minister for Digital Britain Stephen Timms, said the tax will be presented to parliament as part of the Finance Bill. "We want to make high speed networks nationally available. The next-generation fund will help that and we will legislate for it this side of a general election," he said. The levy was first put forward in Lord Carter's Digital Britain report, released earlier this year. But the Tory MP John Whittingdale said the tax, which could raise up to £175m a year to fund high speed networks, would be opposed by the Conservatives.