Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 28 March to Question 39828, how many properties in the North Herefordshire constituency have been identified as very hard to reach by Project Gigabit; and what alternative connectivity options are available to ensure that people in these (i) properties and (ii) communities have the connectivity they require to access online services.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
BDUK’s May 2025 Open Market Review identified approximately 5,100 premises in North Herefordshire with no current or planned gigabit-capable infrastructure. Approximately 3,050 premises are now included in Project Gigabit contracts. Work is ongoing to finalise how many premises might remain outside of any plans, some of which may be very hard to reach.
Alternative connectivity can be obtained through technologies such as fixed wireless access (for example from Vodafone, Three, EE and Airband) and satellites. We continue to consider what the government can do to further enable these fibre alternatives for premises and communities located in very hard to reach areas.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will publish an update on the status of the Universal Service Obligation consultation which closed on 27 November 2023; and what assessment she had made of the potential merits of increasing the 10mbps threshold of decent broadband.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Due to the change in government in 2024, we do not expect to publish a government response to the 2023 public consultation on reviewing the Broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO). However, the information gathered through this is being used to inform ongoing policy development.
Ofcom's December 2024 Connected Nations reporting confirmed that the legislated trigger point to review the Broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) had been reached and we are continuing to work with Ofcom to commence a review of the Broadband USO in due course. Assessment of the potential merits of increasing the speed threshold will be considered as part of this review and in any following policy development.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of potential lessons to be learned from the descoping of premises under the Fastershire-Gigaclear contract; and what protections are in place under the new BDUK framework agreement with (a) Openreach and (b) other contractors to prevent properties in North Herefordshire constituency from being promised a connection and then removed from delivery plans.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We recognise the importance of learning from past delivery challenges. Under the Fastershire programme, Gigaclear was accountable to the Local Authority for any descoping, with Building Digital UK (BDUK) assuring change requests to ensure compliance with commercial and State Aid requirements and responsible use of public funds. All descoped premises were subject to formal change control and assurance by BDUK before approval, including consideration of recouping public funds where appropriate.
BDUK is the contracting authority for all Project Gigabit contracts in England and Wales, including the cross-regional framework with Openreach. These contracts include robust safeguards: suppliers’ performance is monitored against time and budget, with regular reporting and milestone reviews, while failure to meet milestones can trigger rectification plans and suspension of payments. BDUK holds regular meetings with suppliers to ensure effective delivery and address risks early. These measures are designed to maximise coverage and value for money for the taxpayer.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to provide timelines to North Herefordshire constituents on when they will be able to access a gigabit-capable broadband connection, in the context of the delay to Project Gigabit's completion date until 2032.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
As part of Project Gigabit, Openreach is contracted to provide gigabit-capable broadband to approximately 3,050 premises in the North Herefordshire constituency that are not included in suppliers’ commercial plans. This coverage is contracted to be completed by 2030 and the first connections are expected to be ready for service by March 2026.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 83709 on Electronic Government: Proof of Identity, what assessment she has made of the risk that people with limited credit history are disproportionately excluded from verifying their identity through the Gov.uk One Login; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that those people are not prevented from accessing (a) Companies House and (b) other essential Government services.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
GOV.UK One Login provides multiple ways for individuals to prove their identity. Individuals with access to a smartphone and traditional ID documents such as a passport or driving licence can complete verification via the GOV.UK One Login App, which does not require a credit history check.
For those who do not have a smartphone, we have a web route available. We also have a no photo ID route for those without traditional ID documents. These routes use knowledge-based verification questions based on a user's credit history. GOV.UK One login is just one way Companies House users can prove their identity and they provide an alternative via Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSP).
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 83709 on Electronic Government: Proof of Identity, what oversight her Department has of third-party data providers used for identity verification under the Gov.uk One Login; and what mechanisms are in place to audit (a) error rates and (b) mismatched records resulting in people having to pay private verification providers.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
As part of the identity verification process, GOV.UK One Login engages specialist third party service providers. All third party relationships are controlled via commercial arrangements set out in contracts with GOV.UK One Login.
GOV.UK One Login does not have access to any personal information users have shared with third party service providers. If an individual would like to ask for any information that may be processed by our third party service providers, they will need to contact them directly.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the number of people who have been unable to verify their identity using the Gov.uk One Login service due to mismatches with third-party data; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that legitimate (a) company directors and (b) Persons of Significant Control are not required to pay private verification providers when Government systems fail to recognise them.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
GOV.UK One Login applies high standards for identity verification to prevent fraud and ensure the security of users and government services. GOV.UK One Login must ensure users meet these high standards before accessing a government service to fulfil its role.
Services onboarded to GOV.UK One Login are required to provide an alternative route for users unable or unwilling to verify their identity through the service. The alternative route is determined by the individual service. The Companies House alternative route is via Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPS). Companies House do not regulate ACSPs and fees are set at the discretion of individual ACSPs.