Sir – How many people now work from home? When I asked Downing Street to consider posing the question in the 2011 Census, I didn’t even receive an acknowledgement from the Prime Minister’s office.
I was equally unsuccessful when I suggested my district council should explore the issue in the most recent West Oxfordshire Local Plan.
Yet home working must be the biggest growth area in the national economy and the most compelling argument for rolling out ultrafast broadband nationwide.
Many of us use the Internet to keep in touch with loved ones far away. I exchange information with researchers and access material for my next book from institutions across the world without stirring from my computer.
In a similar way scores of Oxfordshire entrepreneurs must be doing business with Europe from home offices, a few probably already trading with the markets in China and India the Chancellor of the Exchequer is so keen to promote — and that before you consider the use of the Internet by major concerns like BMW.
When my wife and I joined a tour of the Mini production line at Cowley, earlier this year, we were amazed not just by the speed and efficiency with which the plant turns out custom-built cars for a global market, but the precision with which they were able to govern the delivery of components from suppliers across Europe.
As the Mayor of London memorably quipped: “UKIP if you want to!” From a commercial attitude, the posturing of the party seems positively Luddite.
Don Chapman, Eynsham
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