Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of patterns of ownership of electronic communications networks since the introduction of the Electronic Communications Code; and what steps they are taking to ensure that cost savings from reduced land rents benefit end-users.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This Government has not carried out any formal assessment of electronic communications network ownership patterns. We continue to work closely with industry to understand the evolving market dynamics and, where issues present, will consider what government can do to support investment and competition for the benefit of all end-users.
The 2017 changes to the Electronic Communications Code, which included changes to the valuation regime, were intended to support network deployment and facilitate infrastructure sharing. Based on Ofcom reporting, 4G geographic coverage from at least one operator has increased from 89% in May 2018 to more than 95% in the 2025 Spring Connected Nations Update. In terms of fixed broadband, Thinkbroadband reports that over 87% of UK premises can access a gigabit capable connection, this is up from 3.4% in January 2018.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of land access disputes between access seekers and providers in relation to electronic communications networks since the introduction of the Electronic Communications Code; and what action they are taking in relation to increased costs or delays associated with tribunal referrals.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Government is aware of an increase in applications to the tribunal following the 2017 reforms to the Electronic Communications Code. While Government understands most applications do not proceed to a full hearing, Government is keen that agreements are reached on a consensual basis wherever possible.
The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 introduced a requirement for operators to inform landowners of the availability of alternative dispute resolution and to consider using it before issuing legal proceedings. It is hoped that this will encourage more collaborative negotiations between operators and site providers, and reduce costs and litigation.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK's mobile network performance and 5G roll-out compared to large European markets and the USA since 2017, specifically in relation to (1) network coverage, (2) download speeds, and (3) base station deployment.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Our ambition is that all populated areas will have higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030.
Our most recent assessment on network coverage is from August 2024 where the most recent data available showed that 5G was available outside 92% of premises in the UK, compared to the EU average 5G population coverage at 89% and the USA at 98%. Since this assessment UK coverage has increased to 96%.
According to user testing by Ookla (an independent analytics company) the UK median 5G standalone download speed in the 4th quarter of 2024 was 181.9 Mbps, the US 388.4 Mbps and tests in eight other European countries ranged from 132.1 - 547.5 Mbps.
Ofcom reports that there are 3,300 5G standalone base station deployments in the UK. This is not comparable across markets as it is dependent on factors including topology and spectrum availability.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of reforms introduced by the Electronic Communications Code and Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022, particularly on market entry and infrastructure investment; and how changing market dynamics have affected the achievement of the UK's 5G aims.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Following engagement with stakeholders about the impact of the 2017 reforms, government consulted on further changes to the Code. These were included in the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022. The measures in that Act received Parliamentary scrutiny and were subject to a published De Minimis Impact Assessment. Most measures are in force, with some still to be commenced.
As market dynamics evolve, Government is working with industry to ensure we have a policy and regulatory framework that supports investment in 5G. Vodafone, VMO2 and EE have all rolled out standalone 5G in major towns and cities across the UK.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the 2017 Electronic Communications Code introducing a ‘no scheme’ basis for valuing land, how they intend to ensure property-owners, including schools, hospitals, local councils, and farmers, are incentivised to host the mobile infrastructure for network roll-out.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Code statutory valuation regime provides a framework that means, in addition to an amount for permitting land to be used, site providers may also receive compensation for any loss or damage from the operator’s use of Code rights. Although the “no network” valuation regime means additional value generated by use of the land for telecommunications purposes is not taken into account, any alternative use of the land can be considered.
Taken together, these provisions strike the right balance between ensuring landowners receive fair payments for allowing their land to be used and the public need for robust digital networks.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they carried out an impact assessment before extending the 2017 Electronic Communications Code ‘no scheme’ valuation model in accordance with Part 2 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022; if not, why not; and what assessment they have made of the potential impacts on landowners and the pace of 5G roll-out.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Following the 2017 reforms, government representatives engaged regularly with stakeholders about their impact. The changes made by the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 were consulted on and received Parliamentary scrutiny during passage of the Act. The Act itself was subject to a published De Minimis Impact Assessment. A technical consultation on draft regulations related to the provisions referred to is open until 2 July.
Government’s decisions on 5G policy are informed by a wide range of evidence and information. We continue to work with mobile operators to meet our 5G standalone coverage ambition by 2030.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to publish the mandatory Data Protection Impact Assessment for the gov.uk One Login programme.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
It is not a mandatory requirement to publish a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA). We do have an obligation to let citizens know how we are processing their data, which we do via a privacy notice published on GOV.UK. We continually develop our DPIA to take into account the new identity verification journeys, such as the no photo ID route. Nevertheless, we are working on a publishable version of our DPIA which will be easy to digest for the public. The One Login programme meets with the Information Commissioners’ Office (ICO) on a monthly basis, engaging openly on programme developments, including iterations of the DPIA, and has been doing so since 2022.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision to rename Ofcom's Advisory Committee on Disinformation and Misinformation the "Committee for Online Information"; and whether the Committee will still have the remit of tackling misinformation.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Ofcom and its advisory committees are independent of government. The name of the advisory committee is therefore a matter for Ofcom.
The Online Safety Act makes the Committee’s role clear. The Act mandates that the Committee must advise the regulator on how providers should address mis- and disinformation on their services. It also requires them to advise Ofcom on exercising their transparency powers and fulfilling their statutory duty to promote media literacy in relation to mis- and disinformation. These duties remain unchanged and will be the focus of the new Online Information Advisory Committee.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any disparity in treatment between landline-only customers and those with broadband packages by BT’s Digital Voice rollout; and whether those with copper broadband will be able to terminate their broadband contract and retain a copper landline for telephone use only.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
No assessment of any disparity in treatment has been made. It will not be possible to retain a copper landline for telephone use only. From April 2024 to March 2025, there were over 2,600 major incidents on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), each affecting 500 or more customers. The decision to upgrade the PSTN has been taken by industry and is a necessity.
The PSTN migration does not affect the universal service obligations in the Electronic Communications Order 2003 which require the designated providers (BT and KCOM) to offer landline-only services throughout the UK. It is therefore possible to order a Voice over Internet Protocol landline without purchasing a general internet connection.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of BT’s Digital Voice rollout, what assessment they have made of residences lacking sufficient mains electricity supply to consistently run a router and a modern telephone.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is determined to ensure any risks arising from the industry-led migration of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), also known as Digital Voice, are mitigated for all customers across the UK.
In November 2024, providers, including BT, agreed to safeguards in the Non-Voluntary Migrations Checklist including requirements to provide resilience solutions, such as battery back-up units, for vulnerable customers, including the landline-dependent, to enable access to emergency organisations for at least one hour in a power outage. A number of communication providers have gone beyond this minimum, providing solutions that provide 4 to 7 hours that customers can use to power their router during a power cut.