Ms Michele Connolly:

On the process included in the reappraisal, we started off identifying, with the Department, a total of eight options for analysis. The eight options were first subject to an assessment against the constraints set out in the public spending code. The constraints would have encompassed a range of issues surrounding legal, regulatory, social, environmental and other factors. Each of the eight options would have been assessed for the degree to which they met the Government's objectives for the delivery of broadband as set out in the intervention strategy. There was a stage 1 appraisal in which all eight options were considered. The results of the appraisal identified two options that were significantly ahead of the others. They were taken forward to a detailed assessment, both from a financial perspective and a non-financial perspective, against the criteria I set out.