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1717585

registered interest
date	13/05/2024
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	Telecommunications: Infrastructure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2024 to Question 21525 on Telecommunications: Infrastructure, when she plans to meet with fixed-line operators to discuss concerns.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	25733
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2024 answer text <p>I<strong> </strong>met fixed-line operators on 18 April to discuss the concerns around the deployment of telegraph poles, and to seek commitments from industry. I was reassured by operators that they do not wish to undermine the public confidence in the Government's programme of infrastructure rollout and that they will consider how to improve their working practices around pole placement. I am positive that revisions to the Code of Practice can be delivered by industry, and I will meet with them again in June to understand what progress has been made.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 20/05/2024 08:17:12 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1700949

registered interest
date	15/04/2024
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	Telecommunications: Infrastructure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to require broadband companies to gain the consent of (a) the local authority and (b) residents before erecting telephone poles.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	21525
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2024 answer text <p>Telegraph poles play an important role in delivering efficient and cost-effective coverage and connectivity to communities, particularly in hard to reach areas without costly and disruptive roadworks, or where existing infrastructure cannot be used.</p><p> </p><p>Permitted development rights allow telegraph poles and lines to be deployed without requiring case-by-case approval from the local planning authority, and we have no plans to introduce legislation to change permitted development rights for telegraph poles.</p><p> </p><p>However, we are aware of the concerns that residents in some parts of the country have about the deployment of telegraph poles. There are existing measures to minimise pole deployment and avoid inappropriate siting, and we are also taking further action to respond to those concerns.</p><p> </p><p>For example, the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003 (“the 2003 Regulations”) set out the legal requirements operators must adhere to.</p><p> </p><p>Already, Local Planning Authorities should be notified 28 days before poles are installed in many circumstances as set out in the 2003 Regulations, and can impose conditions on this installation which operators must adhere to provided that the conditions are reasonable. The 2003 regulations also state that operators should share infrastructure where practicable.</p><p> </p><p>There is also a Code of Practice in place, which provides guidance on ways operators can ensure new installations are placed appropriately, and that local authorities and communities are to be engaged with regarding proposed installations.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom can take enforcement action in respect of breaches of the restrictions and conditions contained in the 2003 regulations. Ofcom have also stated that they would investigate any cases where poles are sited in a way which is not consistent with the requirements and guidelines in place – including where they block residents’ drives or where operators systematically fail to engage with local planning authorities’ suggestions. We encourage Local Planning Authorities to make complaints to Ofcom if they feel these criteria apply.</p><p> </p><p>I recently met with Melanie Dawes, CEO of Ofcom, to discuss this, and to explore ways DSIT and Ofcom can work together to raise awareness of statutory roles and responsibilities and ensure better compliance.</p><p> </p><p>I also wrote to all fixed line operators on 14 March, setting out the government’s concerns and emphasising the importance of infrastructure sharing. Specifically, I have asked them to do everything possible to share existing telegraph poles before installing new ones.</p><p> </p><p>Separately, DSIT is considering how revisions to the Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice might be delivered to promote better working practices.</p><p> </p><p>I met interested MPs on Monday 25 March 2024, and I remain keen to hear and understand the concerns shared by MPs and their constituents. I am also meeting fixed-line operators to discuss these concerns.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 19/04/2024 08:12:45 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1699018

registered interest
date	26/03/2024
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	Telecommunications: Infrastructure
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 her Department is taking to protect the UK's network infrastructure, in the context of the adequacy of whereabouts compliance measures.
tabling member constituency	Rhondda
tabling member printed	Sir Chris Bryant
uin	20554
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2024 answer text <p>Openreach has commercial contracts with broadband contractors who access its ducts and poles. These contracts include detailed requirements on how Openreach should be notified of where and when companies will be building fibre. It is ultimately a commercial decision for Openreach to decide how it enforces these contracts.</p><p> </p><p>DSIT has engaged with Ofcom, Openreach, and the Office of the Telecommunications Adjudicator (OTA) to understand the implications of whereabouts compliance for telecoms network resilience. Improving compliance may help to attribute the cause of accidental damage to fibre infrastructure but would not completely prevent accidental damage or stop those intending to cause malicious damage.</p><p> </p><p>DSIT has been informed by Openreach and the OTA that they have worked with communication providers to agree a new approach to improving whereabouts compliance. DSIT is content that no further action is required at this time but will continue to work with Ofcom to monitor the situation in case risks to security and resilience arise in future.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 16/04/2024 08:19:09 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	1446 label Biography information for Sir Chris Bryant

1697468

registered interest
date	20/03/2024
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	Telecommunications: Infrastructure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2024 to Question 11162 on Telecommunications: Infrastructure, how many notices her Department has received from Ofcom of instances of operators not complying with their statutory duties in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
uin	19660
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2024 answer text <p>Ofcom is an independent regulator and, as such, does not discuss open cases with the Department. Where there are issues of non-compliance with statutory duties, Ofcom will deal with these cases directly with the operator. If Ofcom were to find, following an investigation, that any operator had failed to comply with its regulatory obligations it would publish that information on its <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ofcom.org.uk%2Fabout-ofcom%2Fbulletins%2Fenforcement-bulletin&amp;data=05%7C02%7CLisa.Price%40dsit.gov.uk%7C6cf1af03974449d9643008dc4a5b1a0a%7Ccbac700502c143ebb497e6492d1b2dd8%7C0%7C0%7C638467002383626425%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=lLcvwFawuDJf1G57NTmj1IVZa0MXr2%2BSI5bzHPPVZTY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Enforcement Bulletin</a>.</p><p> </p><p>I would, however, reiterate that I am aware of ongoing concerns about operator compliance with their duties under the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003 (“the 2003 Regulations”) and particularly about new pole installations.</p><p>I recently met Melanie Dawes, CEO of Ofcom, to discuss this, and to explore ways DSIT and Ofcom can work together to raise awareness of statutory roles and responsibilities and ensure better compliance. This work is being taken forward by officials and I will be monitoring progress.</p><p>I also wrote to all fixed line operators on 14 March, setting out the government’s concerns and emphasising the importance of infrastructure sharing. Specifically, I have asked them to do everything possible to share existing telegraph poles before installing new ones. You can find a copy of the letter <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/use-of-telegraph-poles-letter-from-dsit-minister-to-telecom-operators" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>The government has already taken steps to support this through measures in the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 making it easier for operators to upgrade and share the use of existing infrastructure.</p><p>Separately, DSIT will be meeting with operators in the near future to discuss revisions to <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-siting-and-pole-siting-code-of-practice-issue-2-2016" target="_blank"><strong>the Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice</strong></a> and how these can be delivered to promote better working practices.</p><p> </p><p>I also met with interested MPs on Monday 25 March 2024. I remain keen to hear and understand the concerns shared by MPs and their constituents, to inform our ongoing work, as well as to keep you informed of the progress that is being made and the next steps we have planned.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 28/03/2024 09:37:14 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1690046

registered interest
date	19/02/2024
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	Telecommunications: Infrastructure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what guidance her Department issues to broadband providers on working with planning authorities when installing electronic communications apparatus.
tabling member constituency	North Shropshire
tabling member printed	Helen Morgan
uin	14691
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>We believe that communities benefit enormously from the deployment of high quality digital infrastructure, with all the economic and social benefits it brings. We want to make sure that deployment happens efficiently, but at the same time, in ways that make sure the impact on communities and the environment is taken into account and broad support is maintained for the rollout of this critical infrastructure.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is acutely aware of ongoing concerns about the installation of telegraph poles. On 20 February, the Secretary of State wrote to the Chief Executive of Ofcom regarding the 2003 Regulations, asking them how they could enforce greater infrastructure sharing.</p><p> </p><p>We are actively considering a wide range of measures we can take to address these concerns, and to promote collaborative engagement between operators and communities. I will ensure that interested Members are made aware of any concrete steps my Department takes.</p><p> </p><p>Telegraph poles play an important role in delivering efficient and cost effective coverage and connectivity to communities, particularly in hard to reach areas without costly and disruptive roadworks, or where existing infrastructure cannot be used.</p><p> </p><p>Although permitted development rights allow telegraph poles and lines to be deployed without requiring case-by-case approval from the planning authority, these rights are still subject to certain restrictions and limitations set out in legislation. The Department issues no specific guidance on the permitted development rights for electronic communications.</p><p> </p><p>However, we recognise that care must be taken when choosing where to site telegraph poles; ensuring that any potential disruption to communities is minimised.</p><p> </p><p>That is why additional duties and obligations relating to telecommunications installations are included in the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003 (“the 2003 Regulations”) which Code Operators are required to comply with, such as requirements for all operators to share apparatus where practicable, and also to use underground, rather than overground, lines where reasonably practicable, with certain exceptions.</p><p> </p><p>The 2003 Regulations also require that in certain PDR cases, the operator must notify the local planning authority of its intention to deploy certain apparatus, provided that they have no pre-existing equipment in the area. The local planning authority may give written notice of conditions with which they wish the Operator to comply in respect of the installation of the apparatus.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, there is a Code of Practice (The Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice 2016) in place relating to the siting of cabinet and pole installations. It provides guidance on ways operators can ensure these installations are placed appropriately, and that local authorities and communities are engaged with regarding proposed installations. For example, it sets out that where new poles are to be installed the operator should place a site notice to indicate to nearby residents the intention to install a pole, and the proposed location.</p><p> </p><p>As well as the Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice, the Digital Connectivity Portal provides extensive guidance for local authorities and operators to help facilitate broadband deployment, including technical information, and examples of best practice such as early engagement with communities.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 27/02/2024 11:13:03 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4934 label Biography information for Helen Morgan

1689368

registered interest
date	16/02/2024
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	Telecommunications: Infrastructure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2024 to Question 11162 on Telecommunications: Infrastructure, whether Ofcom has notified her Department of any instances where operators in (a) Birmingham and (b) Birmingham, Edgbaston constituency have not complied with their statutory duties.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
uin	14267
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>My officials are in regular contact with Ofcom to discuss the deployment of telegraph poles and the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003.</p><p> </p><p>My Department has not been notified of any complaints Ofcom received for the Birmingham area or the Birmingham, Edgbaston constituency in particular.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom can take enforcement action in respect of breaches of the restrictions and conditions contained in the 2003 Regulations if it has reasonable grounds to believe that operators are failing to comply with those requirements when deploying apparatus. As the independent regulator for telecommunications operators, Ofcom will consider the specifics of each case. The Department does not play a role in investigating complaints, or in any potential enforcement process.</p><p> </p><p>It is crucial for Local Planning Authorities to raise concerns with Ofcom, providing as much evidence as possible, so that Ofcom may consider these complaints. Concerned constituents should raise the matter with their Local Planning Authority in the first instance, as this will allow complaints to be raised with Ofcom through the most appropriate channels.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that care must be taken when choosing where to site telegraph poles; ensuring that any potential disruption to communities is minimised.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>I want to reassure the Honourable Member that the Government is acutely aware of ongoing concerns about the installation of telegraph poles. On 20 February, the Secretary of State wrote to the Chief Executive of Ofcom regarding the 2003 Regulations, asking them how they could enforce greater infrastructure sharing.</p><p> </p><p>We are actively considering a wide range of measures we can take to address these concerns, and to promote collaborative engagement between operators and communities. I will ensure that interested Members are made aware of any concrete steps my Department takes.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 26/02/2024 10:49:10 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1689369

registered interest
date	16/02/2024
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	Telecommunications: Infrastructure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2024 to Question 11162 on Telecommunications: Infrastructure, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing local authorities to work with operators on broadband roll-out strategy.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
uin	14268
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>The Government is acutely aware of ongoing concerns about the installation of telegraph poles. On 20 February, the Secretary of State wrote to the Chief Executive of Ofcom regarding the 2003 Regulations, asking them how they could enforce greater infrastructure sharing.</p><p> </p><p>We are actively considering a wide range of measures we can take to address these concerns, and to promote collaborative engagement between operators and communities. I will ensure that interested Members are made aware of any concrete steps my Department takes.</p><p> </p><p>Telegraph poles play an important role in delivering efficient and cost effective coverage and connectivity to communities, particularly in hard to reach areas without costly and disruptive roadworks, or where existing infrastructure cannot be used.</p><p> </p><p>While telegraph poles and lines can be deployed without prior approval under certain conditions (including where poles and service lines already exist in an area, and where it is not practicable to deploy service lines underground), these permitted development rights do not remove any other applicable regulatory requirements and approvals placed on proposed development, such as through Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulations.</p><p> </p><p>The General Permitted Development Order also places conditions on such developments, including that the visual impact of the development on the surrounding area should be minimised as far as practicable, especially for more sensitive areas, such as Conservation Areas.</p><p> </p><p>Although permitted development rights allow telegraph poles and lines to be deployed without requiring case-by-case approval from the planning authority, these rights are still subject to certain restrictions and limitations set out in legislation.</p><p> </p><p>However, we recognise that care must be taken when choosing where to site telegraph poles; ensuring that any potential disruption to communities is minimised.</p><p> </p><p>That is why the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003 (as amended) require that in these cases, the developer must notify the local planning authority of its intention to deploy and can do so 28 days after giving this notice. The local planning authority must, within this period, give written notice of any conditions with which they wish the Code Operator to comply in respect of the installation of the apparatus. Local planning authorities have discretion about how they inform communities and other interested parties about planning proposals. In addition to the Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice, the Digital Connectivity Portal provides extensive guidance for local authorities and operators to help facilitate broadband deployment, including technical information, as well as examples of best practice such as early engagement with communities.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 14266 14269 question first answered 26/02/2024 10:44:59 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1684457

registered interest
date	23/01/2024
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	Telecommunications: Infrastructure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will provide guidance to local authorities on the maximum number of telegraph poles that can be erected in local areas per number of households.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
uin	11162
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2024 answer text <p>As I stated to the House on 15 January 2024, duties and obligations relating to telecommunications installations are included in the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003 (“the 2003 Regulations”).</p><p> </p><p>In addition, there is a Code of Practice (The Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice 2016) in place relating to the siting of cabinet and pole installations. This provides guidance on ways operators can ensure these installations are placed appropriately, and that local authorities and communities are engaged with regarding proposed installations.</p><p> </p><p>In April 2023, I wrote to all Local Planning Authorities, asking that they notify Ofcom, and provide evidence of any instances, where they believe operators have failed to comply with their duties under 2003 Regulations. I also wrote to the Chief Executive of Ofcom, the independent regulator for telecommunications operators.</p><p> </p><p>My Department does not, however, provide guidance on the number of telegraph poles that can be erected in local areas. This, like any other form of network build, will depend on a number of market factors, including the number of households to be served, availability of existing infrastructure and operators’ commercial plans.</p><p> </p><p>As I previously stated, the Government believes that communities benefit enormously from the deployment of high quality digital infrastructure, with all the economic and social benefits it brings. We want to make sure that deployment happens efficiently, but at the same time, in ways that make sure the impact on communities and the environment is taken into account and broad support is maintained for the rollout of this critical infrastructure.</p><p> </p><p>That is why my Department has taken steps to optimise the use of existing infrastructure. The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 introduced new measures to make it easier for operators to upgrade and share the use of existing underground ducts and telegraph poles, reducing the need for future installations.</p><p> </p><p>We are nonetheless aware of ongoing concerns about the installation of telegraph poles. We are in discussions with Ofcom regarding this, and are considering steps we can take to address these concerns and to promote collaborative engagement between operators and communities.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 31/01/2024 10:56:04 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1681065

registered interest
date	10/01/2024
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Telecommunications: Infrastructure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will provide guidance to local authorities on the maximum number of telegraph poles that can be erected in local areas per number of households.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
uin	9034
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/01/2024 answer text <p>The Government is aware of ongoing concerns about telegraph pole deployment. DLUHC officials are working with officials at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.</p> answering member constituency North East Derbyshire answering member printed Lee Rowley question first answered 17/01/2024 17:29:46 answering member 4652 label Biography information for Lee Rowley
tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1610514

registered interest
date	14/04/2023
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Telecommunications: Infrastructure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending planning regulations for telecommunication infrastructure upgrades to allow objections to be considered where masts or cabinets are to be located on an existing footpath or cycleway and where sufficient space for the proposed infrastructure is available adjacent to the proposed site.
tabling member constituency	Bedford
tabling member printed	Mohammad Yasin
uin	180647
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2023 answer text <p>Through our UK Wireless Infrastructure Strategy the government has set a new ambition of nationwide coverage of standalone 5G to all populated areas by 2030, as well as outlining our commitment to extending 4G coverage to 95% of the UK's landmass.</p><p>On 4 April 2022 amendments to Part 16 of the General Permitted Development Order 2015 came into force to support the deployment of 5G and extend mobile coverage.</p><p>Alongside these amendments, we published a new Code of Practice for wireless network development. This sets out guidance for Mobile Network Operators and infrastructure providers, their agents and contractors, local planning authorities, and all other relevant stakeholders in England. Guidance is included in the Code of Practice on site selection, and minimising obstructions on footways, which operators should follow.</p> answering member constituency Redditch answering member printed Rachel Maclean question first answered 24/04/2023 15:00:22 answering member 4668 label Biography information for Rachel Maclean
tabling member	4598 label Biography information for Mohammad Yasin