Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what comparative assessment has she made of the adequacy of mobile mast density in the UK with other European countries.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

No assessment has been made of the comparative adequacy of mobile mast density in the UK against other European countries. It would be difficult to compare these across markets in a meaningful way as the mast density will be dependent on factors including market structure, topology, reusability and sharing of infrastructure, as well as spectrum availability.

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030; this is commercially led and it is for network operators to define infrastructure deployment plans to deliver this ambition. Network operators have committed significant investment that align with Government’s ambition and already made significant progress with Ofcom reporting that as of January 2026, standalone 5G is available outside of 93% of premises across the UK from at least one operator.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her department has had discussions with mobile infrastructure companies on regulatory reform of the mobile coverage market.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

The Government is undertaking a Mobile Market Review to assess major developments in the sector and how these impact investment in high-quality connectivity. A Call for Evidence supporting the review closed on 5 May and sought detailed input from stakeholders on whether the regulatory framework is equipped to support future investment, innovation and competition in mobile networks. We have engaged with stakeholders, including the mobile industry, throughout the review process and are assessing the responses received. We will provide an update on our findings and next steps later this year.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment has she made of the case for Government intervention in mobile mast location decisions.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

Decisions on the location of mobile masts are a matter for local planning authorities, who determine planning applications and, where relevant, prior approval applications on matters such as siting and appearance. This provides an opportunity for representations to be made to the local planning authority and that they are able to take local considerations into account alongside the need for mobile infrastructure.

The Government acknowledges industry views that current planning rules can slow the deployment of digital infrastructure. In response, we launched a joint call for evidence with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on proposals to explore whether reforming planning rules for digital infrastructure could support deployment. The government is now considering the responses and will set out next steps in due course.

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030; this is commercially led and it is for network operators to define infrastructure deployment plans that align with this.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of creating a public record of mobile mast locations.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 of June 2026 to Question 9431.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her department is taking to improve mobile coverage in rural and coastal areas.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to high quality standalone 5G by 2030. This includes rural and coastal communities across the UK. The rollout is commercially led by the network operators with all three operators having committed to significant investment plans which align with this Government’s ambition.

Government is undertaking a Mobile Market Review with the aim of better understanding how Government can go further in supporting the sector to invest in widespread, high-quality connectivity, as well as continuing efforts to identify and remove barriers to telecoms deployment.

4G connectivity remains important for many and with the help of Government’s Shared Rural Network programme, 4G coverage is now available to over 96% of UK landmass. The programme continues to support the delivery of 4G connectivity improvements to some of the hardest to reach areas of the UK, including South Devon, where a Government-funded SRN mast has been upgraded and activated to provide additional 4G coverage in the Newton Abbot area.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment has she made of whether national mobile coverage statistics reflect signal quality in Devon.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

Ofcom is responsible for reporting on mobile network coverage across the UK, through their Connected Nations reports and the coverage maps available in the ‘Map Your Mobile’ tool. Through the Connected Nation's reports, data is provided on a constituency and local authority level, and through the Map Your Mobile tool, individuals across Devon can determine which operator provides the best level of coverage in their area.

Government recognises that there remain discrepancies in some cases between individual experience and the level of coverage that Ofcom reports should be available.

‘Map Your Mobile’, launched in June 2025, includes crowdsourced data on network performance, opposed to coverage alone to help be more reflective of individual experience. Whilst this was a positive step, we continue to work closely with Ofcom on this issue.

The Government has also restated the importance of continuing to improve the reporting of mobile coverage in the Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications, the management of radio spectrum and postal services, designated on 27 April 2026. This includes building on the Map Your Mobile tool, exploring further use of measured and crowdsourced data, and keeping under review definitions of “good” 4G and 5G to ensure they reflect evolving consumer and business expectations.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, what steps she is taking with the Crown Prosecution Service to help reduce the backlog of court cases.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Attorney General

This Government inherited a justice system in crisis, with a backlog of eighty thousand criminal cases in the Crown court.

That is why we are investing over two and a half billion pounds in our courts. This will fund unlimited sitting days, boost legal aid, and ultimately speed up justice for victims.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when the Government will respond to the recent review into the mobile market.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

The Government is undertaking a Mobile Market Review to assess the technological, structural and financial factors impacting investment in networks and what further action the Government can take to support the sector to invest in high-quality connectivity across the UK into the long term. Our Call for Evidence closed on 5 May 2026. We are now carefully assessing the detailed responses received and will provide an update on our findings and next steps later this year.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of introducing a legal definition of adequate mobile signal.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

As part of the Government’s Mobile Market Review call for evidence, we asked how Government should think about, and define, ‘good’ mobile coverage in relation to quality of service provided to consumers, businesses and the public sector. We also asked what steps Government could take to ensure operators are able to provide this.

The call for evidence closed on 5 May; we are now reviewing responses and determining appropriate policy options with a view to setting out next steps later this year.

Whilst not a legal definition, Ofcom recently proposed a good performance standard for consumers for discussion in their ‘Connectivity you can count on’ discussion paper, published 3^rd June 2026; this can be found at the following link

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/mobile-connectivity-you-can-count-on

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the potential impact on Dartmoor ponies of their inclusion in grazing densities under Countryside Stewardship schemes.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

On 16 July, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced that Dartmoor ponies would be removed from stocking rate calculations in new Environmental Management agreements on Dartmoor, so that farmers do not face a choice between keeping ponies and maintaining sheep or cattle. This implements recommendation 27 of the 2023 Fursdon Review, an independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor. A new dedicated pony supplement will be introduced into farming schemes to remove any financial incentive to reduce pony populations.

Local Housing Allowance rates

Torbay RNLI 160th anniversary

Srebrenica Memorial Week

Bank closures, digital exclusion and cyber risks

Merchant Navy Day

Russian sanctions

International Court of Justice's July 2024 Advisory Opinion on the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Found: Stratford-on-Avon) Mark Sewards (Labour; Leeds South West and Morley) Peter Swallow (Labour; Bracknell) Caroline Voaden

Found: Stratford-on-Avon) Mark Sewards (Labour; Leeds South West and Morley) Peter Swallow (Labour; Bracknell) Caroline Voaden

Found: Chair2 Jess Asato Mrs Sureena Brackenridge Darren Paffey Manuela Perteghella Mark Sewards Caroline Voaden

Found: Brackenridge; Jodie Gosling; Darren Paffey; Rebecca Paul; Manuela Perteghella; Mark Sewards; Caroline Voaden

Found: Stratford-on-Avon) Mark Sewards (Labour; Leeds South West and Morley) Peter Swallow (Labour; Bracknell) Caroline Voaden

Found: Q258 Caroline Voaden: I would like to move on to safeguarding now.

Found: Caroline Voaden: Do you know what sort of new jobs? Josh Hillman: We do not exactly know.

Found: Caroline Voaden: Do you know what sort of new jobs? Josh Hillman: We do not exactly know.