Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Vaizey of Didcot and Alan Reid

Thursday 27th November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vaizey]

When I said that we are consulting on national roaming, I should have made it clear that we are consulting on a range of options, and a voluntary agreement with the operator remains our preferred solution. Looking at the electronic communications code and the planning laws is also part of the options that we are considering.

[Mr Alan Reid (Argyll and Bute) (LD)]

It is good that the Government are giving Arqiva £150 million to put up mobile phone masts in not spots, but they are moving extremely slowly, and they cannot tell anybody what their plans are for Argyll and Bute. Will the Minister urge them to get a move on and to be more transparent with their plans?

[Mr Vaizey]

We are trying to be as transparent as possible. If my hon. Friend wishes to give me his specific concerns, I will ensure that he gets a full response. This is a technically challenging programme, precisely because these masts are going up in areas that are difficult to reach and where there has previously been no coverage.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Vaizey of Didcot and Alan Reid

Thursday 31st October 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Alan Reid (Argyll and Bute) (LD)]

1. What recent discussions she has had with the Scottish Government on broadband coverage in Scotland.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey)]

My Department and the Scotland Office have had regular discussions with the Scottish Government on broadband coverage in Scotland, including on the delivery of two projects for the highlands and islands and for the rest of Scotland. These projects will make superfast broadband available to more than 670,000 homes and businesses.

[Mr Reid]

I thank the Minister for that answer, but approximately 17% of the homes in Argyll and Bute will not receive next generation broadband from the BT contract to lay fibre-optic cables. More innovative solutions are needed to deliver next generation broadband throughout the highlands and islands. Will my hon. Friend work with the Scottish Government to come up with innovative solutions, so that all the homes in Argyll and Bute can have access to next generation broadband?

[Mr Vaizey]

I will certainly do that. I am sure my hon. Friend will welcome the additional £250 million that has been found to take superfast broadband coverage to 95% by 2017.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Vaizey of Didcot and Alan Reid

Thursday 14th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vaizey]

We look across the piece at ensuring that we remove any regulatory obstacles to the roll-out of mobile phone infrastructure. As my hon. Friend points out, getting backhaul for mobile phone masts is incredibly important, and I would be happy to hear his concerns. We do, of course, work constructively with Ofcom and BT to ensure that that is effective.

[Mr Alan Reid (Argyll and Bute) (LD)]

I am pleased with the progress that the Government are making and the Minister’s commitment. In a vastly spread out rural area such as Argyll and Bute, many communities do not have access to mobile phone coverage. Will the Minister tell the House when he hopes to appoint a supplier for the mobile infrastructure project?

[Mr Vaizey]

I understand that we have gone out to tender for the procurement of the mobile infrastructure project, so we should hear some good news in the spring.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Vaizey of Didcot and Alan Reid

Thursday 13th September 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Alan Reid (Argyll and Bute) (LD)]

Many parts of Argyll and Bute have no mobile phone coverage, which is bad for business and can make it difficult to get help in an emergency. Will the Government please tell us what plans they have to extend mobile phone coverage in Argyll and Bute?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey)]

I am delighted to be able to tell my hon. Friend that we have the mobile infrastructure project, which we are currently procuring and which is putting £150 million precisely into bringing mobile phone coverage to constituencies such as his.