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1586404

registered interest
date	17/02/2023
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Housing: Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help improve access to full-fibre broadband for households.
tabling member constituency	Stockton South
tabling member printed	Matt Vickers
uin	147219
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2023 answer text <p>The Government is committed to delivering nationwide gigabit connectivity as soon as possible. Today, 74% of premises can access gigabit-capable networks, up from just 6% in February 2019. By 2025, the Government is targeting a minimum of 85% gigabit-capable coverage, and we are investing £5 billion as part of Project Gigabit to ensure the hardest-to-reach areas in the UK receive coverage.</p><p>Through Project Gigabit, we have issued procurements with a value of over £700 million to deliver gigabit connections to hard-to-reach homes and businesses across the UK, including a £6.6 million contract covering over 4,000 premises in Teesdale in Durham.</p><p>Alongside this, the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme allows eligible individuals and businesses to apply for vouchers to help incentivise broadband providers to build in certain areas. The scheme and its previous iterations have already issued more than 111,000 vouchers, and are enhancing the scheme further by boosting the value of vouchers so individual applicants can access as much as £4,500 worth of support.</p><p>We have also made it as easy and attractive as possible for firms to build their networks, having instructed Ofcom to increase competition and investment in the market. These measures include reducing barriers to entry by requiring Openreach to offer competitors access to their existing duct and pole network via Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) where possible, rather than deploying new infrastructure.</p><p>We also introduced measures in the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 to specifically assist telecoms operators providing broadband services, such as an increased ability to upgrade and share the existing duct and pole network and a procedure to deal with non-responsive landowners. This is in addition to the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act 2021, which makes it easier for broadband operators to install in multiple dwelling units where the landlord is repeatedly unresponsive to requests for access.</p><p>Additionally, it is a priority to ensure that new homes are built with fast, reliable and resilient broadband. On 26 December 2022, new regulations came into force making it mandatory for new homes in England to be future-proofed with gigabit-ready physical infrastructure and - where they can be provided within a cost cap - gigabit-capable connections. This will help ensure that many more new households each year get the connectivity they want and need without costly and disruptive installation work after the home is built.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 27/02/2023 09:01:29 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4844 label Biography information for Matt Vickers

1416353

registered interest
date	25/01/2022
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Housing: Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that new homes have access to gigabit broadband.
tabling member constituency	Crewe and Nantwich
tabling member printed	Dr Kieran Mullan
uin	111765
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2022 answer text <p>It is a government priority to ensure that new build homes are future-proofed and are ready for gigabit-capable connections. Working closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, we have developed proposals to require developers to install into new homes the physical infrastructure necessary and to work with network operators to provide a gigabit-capable connection.</p><p>The measures will give more people access to fast, reliable and resilient broadband connections and reduce the need for costly and disruptive work to retrospectively install them in homes. A statutory technical consultation on these proposals is underway and closes on 28 February 2022 in advance of legislation being brought forward.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 31/01/2022 17:21:17 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4860 label Biography information for Dr Kieran Mullan

1256844

registered interest
date	30/11/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans to introduce a mandatory requirement for fibre optic infrastructure to be included in all new developments.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	122804
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2020 answer text <p>Ensuring that every new home is built with fast, reliable and resilient broadband is a priority for this Government. We announced in March 2020 that we will amend the Building Regulations to require the provision of gigabit-capable connectivity such as fibre optic infrastructure to new homes. We plan to publish a technical consultation this Winter and to introduce the new requirements in 2021.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 08/12/2020 17:47:01 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1256846

registered interest
date	30/11/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Housing: Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department in taking to prevent developers entering into exclusivity arrangements with internet providers and locking residents in to a limited range of broadband services.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	122806
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2020 answer text <p>Ofcom has powers to impose network access requirements on providers it deems to hold significant market power, requiring these providers to allow other operators to access their network. Ofcom regularly reviews market definitions and remedies, and is currently consulting on regulations to apply from April 2021.</p><p>Additionally, the Communications (Access to Infrastructure) Regulations 2016 enable telecoms operators to request information about the physical infrastructure of other utilities, transport and communications providers, and provide the right to access that infrastructure on fair and reasonable terms and conditions. We are currently reviewing whether these Regulations can be improved to encourage more use of infrastructure sharing to deploy telecoms networks.</p><p>Taken together, these measures help increase the numbers of different services consumers can choose from.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 07/12/2020 15:56:51 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1249509

registered interest
date	09/11/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Housing: Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to ensure a reasonable cost of wayleaves for installing full fibre in new and existing housing developments.
tabling member constituency	Ashford
tabling member printed	Damian Green
uin	112972
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2020 answer text <p>My department has introduced a suite of measures to deploy nationwide gigabit broadband as cheaply and as quickly as possible.</p><p>The Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill once enacted will make it easier for network operators to install gigabit broadband in multi-dwelling buildings such as blocks of flats). Third Reading in the House of Lords is expected to take place shortly.</p><p>The Bill creates a faster, cheaper application process in the First-tier Tribunal that operators may use in situations where (i) a leaseholder has requested a connection to be installed, (ii) repeated requests for access have failed to illicit a response from the landowner and (iii) the operator requires access to common parts of the building (such as hallways, basements and stairwells) in order to connect the consumer.</p><p>It is expected that the Bill will bring costs of applying to the courts for access for the operator down to below £500 and shorten the process to around 6 weeks.</p><p>The Electronic Communication Code is the legal framework underpinning rights to install and maintain digital communications infrastructure on public and private land by operators.</p><p>Government has always been clear that good working relationships between Code operators and site providers are a key factor in the Electronic Communications Code operating effectively. The Code is premised on the concept that reasonable attempts will be made to negotiate mutually acceptable agreements in the first instance, and that cases will only be referred to the courts where this proves impossible.</p><p>We are also bringing forward legislation to deliver gigabit broadband to the majority of new homes at minimal costs to developers.</p><p>Government is seeking to amend Building Regulations to require housing developers to provide gigabit broadband unless the costs to the developer exceeds £2000.</p><p>To support developers and to ensure as many new homes as possible receive gigabit broadband the Secretary of State has received commitments from the CEOs of Openreach, Virgin and Gigaclear to contribute to the costs of connecting new homes.</p><p>These commitments ensure that, taken with the amended Building Regulations, gigabit broadband will be deployed to 99% of new build premises.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 16/11/2020 15:24:55 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1249635

registered interest
date	09/11/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Housing: Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of installation offers made for gigabit fibre broadband connections to new builds involved (a) a cost to the developers and (b) a cost of more than £1,800 per connection in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	113012
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2020 answer text <p>My department does not currently hold this information for the last 12 months as it is part of commercial arrangements between telecoms operators and housing developers.</p><p>The Government is bringing forward a policy that will deliver gigabit broadband to the vast majority of new homes at minimal costs to developers. We will do this by bringing forward amendments to the Building Regulations 2010 to require housing developers to provide gigabit broadband unless the costs to the developer exceeds £2,000.</p><p>To support developers, and to ensure as many new homes as possible receive gigabit broadband, the Secretary of State has received commitments from Openreach, Virgin and Gigaclear on the costs of connecting new homes, these include:</p><ul><ul><li><p>Virgin will contribute at least £500 per premise and up to £1,000 for larger developments;</p></li><li><p>Gigaclear will contribute up to £1,000 per premise; and</p></li><li><p>Openreach will contribute up to £1,400 per premise.</p></li></ul></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We have worked with Openreach to extend their free offer of gigabit broadband for new builds and also reduce costs for smaller developments. Openreach reduced their costs of connecting developments consisting of 2 to 4 premises to £2,000, from £3,100, ensuring they all fall within the proposed cost cap.</p><p>Based on discussions with industry, we estimate that these commitments ensure that, taken with the amended Building Regulations, gigabit broadband will be deployed to 99% of new build premises.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 11/11/2020 15:36:33 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1242574

registered interest
date	12/10/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Housing: Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what progress he has made on ensuring developers provide new homes with gigabit broadband.
tabling member constituency	Burton
tabling member printed	Kate Griffiths
uin	102185
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2020 answer text <p>Ensuring that every new home is built with fast, reliable and resilient broadband is a priority for my Department. The Government announced in March 2020 that we will amend Building Regulations 2010 to require housing developers to:</p><ul><li><p>Provide a gigabit-capable connection unless the cost exceeds £2,000, or the network operator declines to provide a connection;</p></li><li><p>Install the next fastest broadband connection which can be installed below a cost of £2,000, where a gigabit-capable connection cannot be installed below a cost of £2,000; and</p></li><li><p>Install the physical infrastructure necessary for gigabit-capable connections even where a gigabit-capable connection exceeds the cost cap.</p></li></ul><p>We are working closely with stakeholders to develop the regulations and statutory guidance and will publish a technical consultation this winter, laying the amendments to regulations in spring 2021.</p><p>The Government has also secured commitments from the CEOs of Openreach, Virgin and Gigaclear to work with housing developers to provide gigabit-capable connectivity to all new build developments across the UK, including contributing to the costs of connection.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 16/10/2020 14:52:00 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4773 label Biography information for Kate Kniveton

1176890

registered interest
date	06/02/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Housing: Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2020 to Question 10373 on Housing: Broadband, what steps he is taking to ensure that the legislative proposals on buildings regulations will enable householders to have a choice of provider.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	13529
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2020 answer text <p>We have not yet announced the content of the legislation to deliver gigabit-capable connections to new build developments. We are working with key industry stakeholders to finalise the policy and will publish the Government consultation response, including a full outline of the proposed legislation, in the Spring.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>However, Government recognises the importance of consumer choice and market competition. Although we are clear the mechanisms for delivering this are primarily a matter for Ofcom we believe that existing regulations allow for network sharing and access between operators. In addition, The <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/information-for-industry/policy/electronic-comm-code" target="_blank">Electronic Communications Code</a> and <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/700/pdfs/uksi_20160700_en.pdf" target="_blank">The Communications (Access to Infrastructure) Regulations 2016</a> give operators the right to access land and existing infrastructure.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 11/02/2020 11:51:03 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1174973

registered interest
date	30/01/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Housing: Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that full-fibre broadband that is competitively priced can be deployed in new build apartment blocks.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	10373
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2020 answer text <p>Ensuring all new rural and urban homes are built with the future in mind, ready to accept the next generation of digital infrastructure, is a top priority for this Government.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In the Queen’s Speech, the Government announced it will legislate to amend Building Regulations so that all new build homes are required to have the infrastructure to support gigabit-capable connections. We will also legislate to require housing developers to work with broadband companies to install gigabit-capable connections in virtually all new build homes, up to a cost cap. In addition, the Chancellor has announced £5bn of funding to improve broadband in the hardest to reach areas of the country.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>These measures will work alongside the provisions in the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill. This legislation supports telecoms operators to gain access to blocks of flats where a landlord repeatedly fails to respond to access notices and a resident is seeking a new service.</p><p><br>Together, these measures will drive competition in the commercial market, encourage investment in locations which may otherwise be left behind, and support leaseholders to receive the connectivity they need; from the providers that they want.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 05/02/2020 12:48:30 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1171326

registered interest
date	16/01/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that high speed broadband infrastructure is included in new housing development sites before those houses are occupied.
tabling member constituency	Loughborough
tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
uin	4499
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2020 answer text <p>New build connectivity is a priority for this Government. Ensuring new homes are built with the future in mind, ready to accept the next generation of digital infrastructure, remains vitally important.</p><p>The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, supported by my department, issued a policy consultation in 2018 outlining proposals to mandate gigabit-capable connections to new build developments.</p><p>Government confirmed its intention to legislate on new build connectivity in the Queen's Speech and the Government response, setting out the next steps, will be issued in the Spring.</p> answering member constituency Tatton answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 24/01/2020 14:48:41 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt