The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has rejected suggestions that it should take a more pro-active role in the delivery of broadband technology.

Responding to a report from the Commons rural affairs select committee on Tuesday, the government said it was the role of individual departments to ensure their policies were of benefit to the whole country.

James Gray, shadow minister for the countryside, told ePolitix.com: "This is the new Labour government which talked of 'joined up government' but now we hear that DEFRA is trying to pin the responsibility for rural broadband on the DTI.

"I call myself 'shadow minister for the countryside' because I care about the countryside and I am willing to speak out on any issue which affects rural life.

"The fact that [rural affairs minister] Alun Michael has ignored his responsibilities in this area is a disgrace."

Forum Response: Country Land and Business Association

Dr Charles Trotman, rural economy adviser at the CLA, told ePolitix.com: "Focusing on the role of DEFRA in the roll-out of broadband is surely missing the point. The CLA has said for some time now that it is the actual delivery of affordable broadband to rural communities that is the key point.

"There is no more a compelling business case for faster roll-out of broadband than the needs of those in the rural environment that need broadband to survive and thrive. Without broadband, these companies will simply go back to urban areas where there is already ADSL broadband access.

"The government's public aggregation project is a significant beginning. But, and it's a big but, rural business must be allowed to piggy back onto the public broadband infrastructure. We are not asking for state subsidies.

"What we do not want to see is the creation of private networks between schools, GP surgeries and community halls which prevent rural business the opportunity of broadband access. Once again, we are asking government to clarify the state aid rules so that everybody is clear as to where they stand.

"Failure in this regard does a massive disservice to those enterprising rural entrepreneurs who simply want a fair crack of the whip but are unable to compete because affordable broadband remains unavailable."

Forum Response: Countryside Alliance

Simon Hart, chief executive designate of the Countryside Alliance, told ePolitix.com: "It is not good enough to leave the roll-out of rural broadband to the rural community, which is the only way many rural businesses have gained the service.

"Rural businesses are finding life difficult enough at present without having to worry about the unlevel playing field of broadband availability in rural areas.

"Rural unity is no substitute for government action and we urge the government to look urgently at this problem.

"Equally, broadband suppliers must realise that there is a massive demand for broadband in rural Britain and should take immediate steps to address the lack of supply - the mutual benefits of rolling out supply to rural areas should be obvious to anyone with good business sense.

"The rural community is not asking for special favours - just parity with urban areas."