To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will discuss with
ministers of the Scottish Government ways to make faster progress on providing broadband
to rural communities in East Lothian constituency.
<p>The UK Government is supporting the delivery of superfast broadband by the Scottish
Government through the superfast broadband programme. It is providing over £121 million
in funding, which should make superfast broadband available to over 720,000 additional
premises in Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>Broadband Delivery UK has regular meetings with
the Scottish Government and provides extensive commercial and project support to assist
delivery of the Government's broadband objectives through the projects in Scotland.</p>
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether social media news
feeds are considered by Ofcom in their assessment of media plurality.
<p>The Government has commissioned Ofcom to produce a measurement framework for media
plurality. Ofcom work independently of Government and it is for Ofcom to develop the
measurement framework, in consultation with industry. However I understand Ofcom will
be publishing a consultation on the measurement framework shortly.</p>
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what key performance
indicators have been set for the Government's contribution to the Future Fifty programme.
<p>The following key performance indicators have been agreed with TechCity UK for
the Future Fifty programme for 2014-15:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>• Number of
firms provided with intensive one-to-one support from the Future Fifty team</p><p>
</p><p>• Number of Future Fifty events delivered</p><p> </p><p>• Number of individuals
from Future Fifty firms participating in events delivered as part of the programme</p><p>
</p><p>• Net promoter score of companies who respond positively versus negatively
about the impact of the programme</p><p> </p><p>• Volume of positive media coverage
in target media, and key message delivery</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the deadline is for
sites to be acquired and built under the Mobile Infrastructure Project.
The notspot data is collated and updated annually by Ofcom with information from the
Mobile Network Operators. The last report was published in December 2014.The Ofcom
provides an interactive map showing coverage of 2G, 3G or 4G services which can be
found at <a href="http://infrastructure.ofcom.org.uk/" target="_blank">http://infrastructure.ofcom.org.uk/</a>
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer
of 3 March 2015 to Question 225611, on broadband: urban area, how much funding from
the SuperConnected Cities budget has been assigned to each city; and how much has
been spent (a) in total, (b) on broadband connection vouchers, (c) on free WiFi in
public buildings, (d) on advertising and (e) on other items to date in (i) the programme
as a whole and (ii) each city.
<p>The 22 SuperConnected Cities were given 'up to' funding allocations at the start
of the SuperConnected Cities Programme. Spending priorities have developed over the
course of the Programme, and the cities are now committed to delivering over 10,000
vouchers, free public Wi-Fi in 1,000 public buildings and on buses, trams and trains,
as well as other digital connectivity projects for a total spend of around £80m. The
majority of the spend will come at the end of the Programme - particularly with vouchers
where there is a period of time between when the voucher is issued and the connection
work is completed - with some wrap up costs in the next financial year.</p><p>For
Northern Ireland and Scotland funding is given to cities via the budget transfer system,
so a split for spending on individual projects is not applicable.</p><p>The table
below outlines the original 'up to' allocations and current spend across the 22 cities
of the Programme.</p><p>It is not possible to provide city allocations for marketing
as it was a nationwide campaign.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="8"><p><strong>England
and Wales</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>"Up To" Allocation</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>£M</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p><strong>Spend to February (Qtr 3 claims) 2014-15</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td> </td><td><p><strong>£M</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td><p><strong>CVS</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>WFPB</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>OTHER</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Birmingham</p></td><td><p><strong>8.25</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>Birmingham</p></td><td><p>0.39</p></td><td><p>0.39</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p><strong>0.78</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Brighton</p></td><td><p><strong>2.52</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>Brighton</p></td><td><p>0.07</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p>0.56</p></td><td><p><strong>0.63</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Bristol</p></td><td><p><strong>11.37</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>Bristol</p></td><td><p>0.02</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p>1.52</p></td><td><p><strong>1.54</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cambridge</p></td><td><p><strong>4.12</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>Cambridge</p></td><td><p>0.05</p></td><td><p>0.47</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p><strong>0.52</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cardiff</p></td><td><p><strong>10.17</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>Cardiff</p></td><td><p>0.85</p></td><td><p>0.08</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p><strong>0.93</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Coventry</p></td><td><p><strong>2.35</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>Coventry</p></td><td><p>0.09</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p><strong>0.09</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Derby</p></td><td><p><strong>2.27</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>Derby</p></td><td><p>0.03</p></td><td><p>1.22</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p><strong>1.25</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>LeedsBradford</p></td><td><p><strong>13.54</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>LeedsBradford</p></td><td><p>0.93</p></td><td><p>0.32</p></td><td><p>0.50</p></td><td><p><strong>1.75</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London</p></td><td><p><strong>25.00</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>London</p></td><td><p>1.68</p></td><td><p>0.41</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p><strong>2.10</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Manchester</p></td><td><p><strong>10.25</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>Manchester</p></td><td><p>2.15</p></td><td><p>1.96</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p><strong>4.12</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Newcastle</p></td><td><p><strong>5.25</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>Newcastle</p></td><td><p>0.20</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p>0.58</p></td><td><p><strong>0.78</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Newport</p></td><td><p><strong>6.00</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>Newport</p></td><td><p>0.04</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p><strong>0.04</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oxford</p></td><td><p><strong>4.83</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>Oxford</p></td><td><p>0.04</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p>0.09</p></td><td><p><strong>0.12</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Portsmouth</p></td><td><p><strong>4.89</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>Portsmouth</p></td><td><p>0.07</p></td><td><p>0.68</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p><strong>0.74</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Salford</p></td><td><p><strong>7.10</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>Salford</p></td><td><p>0.34</p></td><td><p>1.11</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p><strong>1.45</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>York</p></td><td><p><strong>1.65</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>York</p></td><td><p>0.10</p></td><td><p>0.00</p></td><td><p>0.11</p></td><td><p><strong>0.21</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>119.56</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>7.04</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>6.64</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>3.36</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>17.04</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td
colspan="5"><p><strong>Devolved Administrations - Northern Ireland and Scotland</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>"Up To" Allocation</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>£M</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p><strong>Budget Transfers</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>£M</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Belfast</p></td><td><p><strong>13.46</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>Belfast</p></td><td><p><strong>5.68</strong></p></td><td> </td><td> </td><td>
</td></tr><tr><td><p>Derry</p></td><td><p><strong>2.20</strong></p></td><td> </td><td><p>Derry</p></td><td><p><strong>0.10</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Nth Ireland</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>15.66</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p><strong>Nth Ireland</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>5.78</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Aberdeen</p></td><td><p><strong>5.58</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>Aberdeen</p></td><td><p><strong>2.44</strong></p></td><td> </td><td> </td><td>
</td></tr><tr><td><p>Edinburgh</p></td><td><p><strong>9.00</strong></p></td><td> </td><td><p>Edinburgh</p></td><td><p><strong>4.98</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Perth</p></td><td><p><strong>0.34</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p>Perth</p></td><td><p><strong>0.23</strong></p></td><td> </td><td> </td><td>
</td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Scotland</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>14.92</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p><strong>Scotland</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>7.65</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>30.58</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>13.43</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="5"><p><strong>Total SCCP</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Allocation</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>£M</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td><p><strong>Spend & Budget Tfrs</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>£M</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>
</td><td><p><strong>150.14</strong></p></td><td> </td><td> </td><td><p><strong>30.47</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Marketing</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Allocation</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2.20</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Spend</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1.67</strong></p></td><td>
</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table>
This Government has made good progress on Government shared spectrum. 62 MHz of Government
used spectrum has already been shared or released. 140 MHz of spectrum at 2.3 GHz
and 3.4 GHz will be released entirely from public to private use.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has
made of the suitability of the L-Band spectrum between 1.4GHz and 1.5GHz for improved
on-train connectivity.
There have been two assessments already. At a European level the Radio Spectrum Policy
Group has published a report on wireless broadband in part of this range (<a href="https://circabc.europa.eu/d/a/workspace/SpacesStore/6e0575cf-5244-4707-a811-c45b61b29377/RSPG13-522-Final_RSPG_Report_on_WBB.pdf"
target="_blank">https://circabc.europa.eu/d/a/workspace/SpacesStore/6e0575cf-5244-4707-a811-c45b61b29377/RSPG13-522-Final_RSPG_Report_on_WBB.pdf</a>,
section 6.2). In the UK, Ofcom recently concluded a consultation on the use of the
upper end of this range of frequencies for supplemental downlink, i.e. boosting data
rates for mobile telephony. This can be found at <a href="http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/licence-variation-1.4ghz/summary/1.4ghz-consultation.pdf"
target="_blank">http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/licence-variation-1.4ghz/summary/1.4ghz-consultation.pdf</a>
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a comparative
assessment of the cost of (a) legal fees and (b) legal advice relating to appeals
of regulatory decisions to (i) Ofcom and (ii) other regulators in (A) 2013-14, (B)
2012-13 and (C) 2011-12.
There are no plans to make a comparative assessment. Information about legal costs
relating to appeals of regulatory decisions can be sought directly from Ofcom and
other economic regulators, who are independent from Government.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a comparative
assessment of the effects of (a) judicial review standard and (b) merits-based appeals
on the ability of Ofcom to carry out its functions.
The Government has already assessed the impacts of both standards of review. This
was done as part of its analysis prior to consulting on options for reforming Regulatory
and Competition Appeals in 2013.
