MINISTERS must act urgently to close the gaping "digital divide" between town and country - or jeopardise businesses and jobs in rural parts of North Yorkshire, according to a group of MPs.

They say the Government should focus on introducing lightening-fast broadband internet links to the countryside - ensuring remote villages are not left behind in the information revolution.

If rural businesses such as farms cannot access high-speed internet connections they will fail to compete - and risk going to the wall, warned the Commons' influential Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.

But at present it is too expensive for Internet providers to introduce broadband technology to communities with few homes, shops and services.

MPs on the committee concluded:"It is counter-productive to have allowed a 'digital divide' to open up between urban and rural areas.

"The Government argues broadband is essential to ensure competitiveness and efficiency.

"It is therefore hugely unfair that many rural communities may not be able to gain from broadband - at least not for the time being."

To stop rural areas being disadvantaged Defra must identify isolated communities, develop policies to make it easier to access broadband and invest "adequate" funds, said the committee.

They said it was "counter-productive" for ministers to encourage farmers and other rural workers to access Government services electronically when there were still broadband black spots.

The committee also urged the Government to set a target date for rolling it out across Britain. But it accepted it was "unreasonable" for Internet providers to take the full financial hit. Its report said the Government should work to support groups and businesses campaigning for Broadband provision in rural communities.

Updated: 09:48 Saturday, July 26, 2003