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1317107

registered interest
date	21/05/2021
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	Telecommunications: Infrastructure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2021 to Question 709 on Telecommunications: Infrastructure, for what reason legislative proposals were required in respect of a matter for private negotiation between operators and site providers; and if he will undertake an assessment on whether the fall in rents reflects the impact assessment.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	5194
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2021 answer text <p>The 2017 reforms to the Code reflected this government’s view that the prices being paid for rights to install communications apparatus were too high and with digital communications becoming an increasingly critical part of daily life, needed to be addressed.</p><p>In the first instance, rental payments remain a matter for negotiation between the operator and landowner. The valuation framework contained in the Code is one applied by the courts where the parties are unable to reach a mutually acceptable agreement and the courts are asked to impose Code rights. In these circumstances the court will decide not only whether the requested rights should be imposed, but also what the terms of any subsequent agreement should be.</p><p>In those circumstances, the legislation provides that, for valuation purposes, the specific use of the land for telecommunications networks is disregarded. However, the landowner remains otherwise entitled to reasonable rental payments, as well as compensation for any loss or damage. We believe that framework strikes the right balance between the public need for digital communications and ensuring individual landowners are not left out of pocket for allowing their land to be used.</p><p>We have no plans to undertake an assessment of reductions in rents following the 2017 reforms in the near future. We were clear at the time the 2017 legislation was introduced that the changes would take time to achieve their intended effect, not only because the market would require time to adapt, but also because case law would need to be developed and the new provisions would not be immediately applied to existing agreements.</p><p>Our recent consultation makes it clear that the government is not revisiting the valuation regime introduced in 2017. However, our consultation does ask about whether changes are needed to support more collaborative negotiations, including the possible introduction of Alternative Dispute Resolution, which could help disagreements about rents to be dealt with more quickly and cheaply and ensure the aims of the 2017 reforms are realised.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 26/05/2021 16:31:13 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1316809

registered interest
date	20/05/2021
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	Broadband: Low Incomes
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 is taking to ensure broadband is affordable to people on low incomes.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough
tabling member printed	Gill Furniss
uin	4654
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2021 answer text <p>In response to Covid-19, the Government and Ofcom agreed a set of commitments with the UK’s major broadband and mobile operators to support vulnerable consumers. Providers committed to working with customers who are finding it difficult to pay their bill to ensure that they were treated fairly and appropriately supported, in addition to providing new and generous landline and mobile offers, such as free or low cost mobile data boosts.</p><p>A range of broadband social tariff packages are already available in the market to support those on low incomes or who receive specific benefits. BT, for example, recently announced a Home Essentials package to launch in June which will provide fibre and voice services to those on Universal Credit and certain other legacy benefits for £15 per month. Hyperoptic and other providers are offering similar packages to assist on low incomes. The Government continues to encourage all fixed-line providers to introduce a social tariff offer so as to ensure those on low incomes have affordable access to services and information.</p><p>In addition, the Government has strengthened Ofcom's consumer protection rules, to ensure that consumers can access the right information to make informed decisions about new services, have stronger contract rights, and switch between providers more easily. The Government’s work complements that of the regulator particularly its vulnerability guide issued in July 2020, which set out how the sector should support those with financial, health or emotional issues.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 25/05/2021 16:47:00 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4571 label Biography information for Gill Furniss

1316184

registered interest
date	19/05/2021
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	NEC Corporation: 5G
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 May 2021 to Question 1058, whether funding for the NEC NeutrORAN trial will be provided by the Diversification Task Force.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	3859
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2021 answer text <p>The Government announced its support for the NEC NeutrORAN trial in the 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy last November. The project was funded as part of the Government’s successful, long-standing 5G Testbeds and Trials programme. The project is progressing at pace, and is expected to deliver live 5G Open RAN within the UK in 2021.</p><p>The Telecoms Diversification Taskforce was established as an independent advisory group to help guide the Government’s design of targeted interventions to deliver the diversification strategy. All funding decisions remain with Government, as part of a wider programme of delivering on our long-term vision for a competitive, open and resilient supply chain.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 24/05/2021 12:36:01 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1316343

registered interest
date	19/05/2021
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	Telecommunications: Infrastructure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when his Department plans to publish the Government's response to the consultation into the Electronic Communications Code.
tabling member constituency	Tatton
tabling member printed	Esther McVey
uin	3853
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2021 answer text <p>We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation and will publish the Government response in due course. This will include our proposals for measures to ensure that the Electronic Communications Code continues to support the faster deployment of digital infrastructure. We expect any legislative measures to be taken forward in the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman grouped question UIN 3855 question first answered 26/05/2021 14:41:12 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey

1316344

registered interest
date	19/05/2021
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	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 recent assessment his Department has made of the economic merits of full-fibre broadband roll out in the context of the findings of the CEBR report, Ultra Fast Full Fibre Broadband: A Platform for Growth, published April 2021.
tabling member constituency	Tatton
tabling member printed	Esther McVey
uin	3854
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2021 answer text <p>The Government notes the CEBR report, commissioned by Openreach, which predicts a huge productivity boost from nationwide gigabit connectivity, suggesting a £59 billion boost to the UK’s Gross Value Added (GVA) by 2025.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Increased productivity is one of reasons why the Government remains committed to delivering national gigabit connectivity as soon as possible. Today, over two in five premises can access gigabit-capable networks, up from just one in ten in November 2019. By the end of the year, 60% will have access, and by 2025 the Government is targeting a minimum of 85% gigabit-capable coverage, working with industry to reach as close to 100% as possible.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>On the report’s suggestion that 270,000 people could move from urban to more rural areas as a result of changing attitudes towards home working, the Government recognises the importance of strong digital connectivity in rural areas. That is why we are investing £5bn to ensure those living in hard-to-reach areas get the gigabit connectivity they deserve. This is consistent with the Government's wider ambition to level-up the UK.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 24/05/2021 14:52:56 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey

1316346

registered interest
date	19/05/2021
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	Telecommunications: Infrastructure
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 plans his Department has to include provisions in the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill, announced in the Queen's Speech, to quicken the process by which wayleaves are granted.
tabling member constituency	Tatton
tabling member printed	Esther McVey
uin	3855
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2021 answer text <p>We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation and will publish the Government response in due course. This will include our proposals for measures to ensure that the Electronic Communications Code continues to support the faster deployment of digital infrastructure. We expect any legislative measures to be taken forward in the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman grouped question UIN 3853 question first answered 26/05/2021 14:41:13 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey

1315662

registered interest
date	18/05/2021
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	Broadband: Southport
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 is taking to increase broadband speeds in Southport.
tabling member constituency	Southport
tabling member printed	Damien Moore
uin	3136
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2021 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The Government is working with mobile operators and suppliers to build an open, flexible, and diverse telecoms supply market, following the recommendations of the Diversification Taskforce, published on 20 April on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/telecoms-diversification-taskforce-findings-and-report/telecoms-diversification-taskforce-findings-and-report" target="_blank">GOV.UK</a>.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">The Taskforce recommendations are helping to guide our approach delivering the Diversification strategy, including its central pillar of attracting new suppliers. The Government is designing a programme of targeted R&amp;D to level the playing field for smaller suppliers, and we continue to consider all options.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">Suppliers are themselves taking positive steps to support this agenda and a number of smaller suppliers have already announced new research facilities in the UK.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The government is committed to delivering lightning-fast, reliable broadband to everyone in the UK. ‘Project Gigabit’ is ambitious, challenging and central to how we build back better. Our plan - to stimulate investment, bust barriers and drive competition - is working. We are on track for one of the fastest rollouts in Europe and for 60% of all households to have access to gigabit speeds by the end of the year. It is a huge leap forward from 2019, when it was 9%.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">We are backing Project Gigabit with £5 billion so hard to reach communities are not left out - starting to level up now, not waiting for the end of the commercial rollout, and building on the half a million rural homes and businesses already given coverage through our support.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">As part of Project Gigabit we are funding up to £210 million worth of vouchers over the next three years to help with the costs of installing gigabit to people’s doorsteps and up to £110 million to connect up to 7,000 rural public buildings such as GP surgeries, libraries and schools. All premises not covered through these measures or through commercial coverage will be in scope for new Project Gigabit contracts.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">According to Thinkbroadband (<a href="http://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/E14000958" target="_blank">http://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/E14000958</a>) 99.61% of premises in Southport currently has access to superfast broadband - up from 23% in 2011. On top of this, 19% also have access to Gigabit speeds. So far, 9 gigabit connection vouchers have been issued in the Southport area with a value of £19,600. Eligibility of other premises for vouchers can be checked at <a href="https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/ </a></ins></p><p /><p /> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 26/05/2021 10:02:45 question first ministerially corrected 27/05/2021 14:48:37 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman previous answer version 2742 answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4669 label Biography information for Damien Moore

1315700

registered interest
date	18/05/2021
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	Dormant Accounts Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Dormant Bank and Building Society Acounts Act 2008, Reclaim Fund Ltd scheme, how many reclaims from the scheme there have been since it was set up; and how many have ended up in dispute and been referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	3047
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2021 answer text <p>Reclaim Fund Ltd (RFL) is legally obliged to retain a portion of the funds it receives as a result of the Dormant Assets Scheme in order to repay owners who come forward to reclaim their money. Data provided by RFL indicates that it has processed reclaims for 134,031 accounts, totalling £106m in value, up to 31 December 2020.</p><p>RFL is part of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) scheme. However, as participating banks and building societies hold the customer relationships, RFL does not have any data on how many reclaim disputes, if any, have been referred to FOS by participating firms. RFL has had no direct referrals to FOS.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 24/05/2021 14:20:20 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1315784

registered interest
date	18/05/2021
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	Broadband: Standards
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 estimate he has made of the average internet (a) download and upload speed and (b) monthly cost for households in each region of the UK in the latest period for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
uin	2886
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2021 answer text <p>Superfast broadband coverage is now available to over 97% of the UK, and Think Broadband reports that gigabit-capable networks now serve more than two in five (40%) premises in the UK.</p><p>Earlier this month, Ofcom published its UK Home Broadband Performance research which showed that the average download speed in the UK was 80.2 Mbps. This is an increase of 25% from 2019. The same report highlighted upload speeds of 21.6 Mbps which is equal to a 54% increase over the same period. Upload and download speeds will vary based on the type of connectivity installed within a property and the consumer’s individual retail package.</p><p>Ofcom published as part of its Connected Nations report in June 2020 the average speeds for each Nation. This showed the average download speeds as:</p><ul><li><p>England: 74 Mbps</p></li><li><p>Wales: 58 Mbps</p></li><li><p>Scotland: 70Mbps</p></li><li><p>Northern Ireland: 64 Mbps</p></li></ul><p>Regional data is produced on a quarterly basis by the website ThinkBroadband, and can be accessed at the following address: <a href="https://labs2.thinkbroadband.com/local/browse" target="_blank">https://labs2.thinkbroadband.com/local/browse</a>. Average speeds have been increasing each quarter as more premises have access to gigabit-capable broadband networks.</p><p>Different packages offered by suppliers may offer greater speeds, data allowances or other benefits, so it is difficult to assess the average cost. For example a number of broadband packages may include Pay TV subscriptions and other additional add-ons. However, to ensure decent broadband is affordable to everyone, a number of operators have brought in new nationwide affordable tariffs starting at £15 per month. For example, BT and Hyperoptic provide fibre social tariff products for households in receipt of Universal Credit and other means-tested benefits offering download speeds ranging from 40Mbps, up to 150Mbps.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 26/05/2021 16:27:39 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

1315821

registered interest
date	18/05/2021
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	Telecommunications: Standards
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the findings of the Telecommunications Diversification Taskforce, what plans he has to create an international digital infrastructure recommendations and standards alliance.
tabling member constituency	Totnes
tabling member printed	Anthony Mangnall
uin	3162
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2021 answer text <p>Increasing UK representation and participation in the international standards setting environment is vitally important in promoting secure, open and interoperable standards. To achieve these objectives, the Government is working closely with industry, the NCSC, Ofcom and a wide range of international partners.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Through the UK’s G7 Presidency, the Government led positive conversations on standards with international partners, and will continue to work closely with like-minded partners in order to forge a consensus on these issues.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Telecommunications Diversification Taskforce has provided detailed recommendations to government as it takes forward this work, and we will set out next steps in due course.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 26/05/2021 10:09:30 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4762 label Biography information for Anthony Mangnall