Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many premises will benefit from current live gigabit contracts in North Shropshire constituency.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
According to the independent website ThinkBroadband.com, almost 68% of premises in the North Shropshire constituency currently have access to a gigabit-capable connection, up from just 3% in December 2019.
The Project Gigabit contract with the supplier Freedom Fibre will deliver gigabit-capable connectivity to over 12,000 hard-to-reach premises across the North Shropshire region by the end of 2026. Approximately 9,000 of these premises are in the North Shropshire constituency.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many households in North Shropshire constituency currently do not have access to a gigabit broadband connection.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
According to the independent website ThinkBroadband.com, almost 68% of premises in the North Shropshire constituency currently have access to a gigabit-capable connection, up from just 3% in December 2019.
The Project Gigabit contract with the supplier Freedom Fibre will deliver gigabit-capable connectivity to over 12,000 hard-to-reach premises across the North Shropshire region by the end of 2026. Approximately 9,000 of these premises are in the North Shropshire constituency.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether officials in her Department have had discussions with Ofcom on the potential merits of increasing the minimum requirement for the battery life of an emergency back-up line provided to properties switched to the digital phone network.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Government is committed to improving protections for those who depend on their landline for connectivity. All signatories to the PSTN charter, agreed in December 2023, have committed to working to provide solutions that go beyond the Ofcom minimum guidance. Ofcom guidance states that communications providers should have at least one solution that enables access to emergency organisations, for a minimum of one hour in the event of a power outage. Communication Providers are required to meet standards and specifications set out in the General Conditions of Entitlement, under obligations imposed by the Communications Act 2003, to ensure continuity of service.
Last year, DSIT asked Ofcom to consider how the general resilience of telecommunications services in the event of prolonged power outages served the needs of customers. In response, Ofcom launched a consultation on the resilience of the sector which included a separate call for input on power backup for mobile radio access networks that closed on 1 March. Ofcom is currently considering the responses.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent estimate she has made of when gigabit broadband coverage will be available to every household in North Shropshire constituency.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
According to the independent website ThinkBroadband.com, almost 68% of premises in the North Shropshire constituency are able to access a gigabit-capable connection, up from just 3% in December 2019.
To extend this coverage further, last year we signed a Project Gigabit contract with the supplier Freedom Fibre to deliver gigabit-capable connectivity to over 12,000 hard-to-reach premises in the North Shropshire region by the end of 2026, of which approximately 9,000 of these premises are in the North Shropshire constituency. There will also be further commercial rollout in the area.
While the majority of premises will be covered by commercial activity or Project Gigabit, for those parts of the UK where this is not possible, the government is considering alternative ways to improve connectivity. Last year, government launched a consultation setting out our proposed policy approach to connecting Very Hard to Reach (VHTR) UK premises, with a response due to be published later this year. The response will set out further policy proposals for VHTR areas not already covered by commercial activity or existing government schemes.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an estimate of the number of households that have access to gigabit broadband in North Shropshire constituency.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
According to the independent website ThinkBroadband.com, almost 68% of premises in the North Shropshire constituency are able to access a gigabit-capable connection, up from just 3% in December 2019.
To extend this coverage further, last year we signed a Project Gigabit contract with the supplier Freedom Fibre to deliver gigabit-capable connectivity to over 12,000 hard-to-reach premises in the North Shropshire region by the end of 2026, of which approximately 9,000 of these premises are in the North Shropshire constituency. There will also be further commercial rollout in the area.
While the majority of premises will be covered by commercial activity or Project Gigabit, for those parts of the UK where this is not possible, the government is considering alternative ways to improve connectivity. Last year, government launched a consultation setting out our proposed policy approach to connecting Very Hard to Reach (VHTR) UK premises, with a response due to be published later this year. The response will set out further policy proposals for VHTR areas not already covered by commercial activity or existing government schemes.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Further agreement with telecoms firms to protect vulnerable customers, published on 11 March 2024, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the definition of vulnerable.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
DSIT is working closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) regarding the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) migration.
On 29 January, DSIT Ministers met with Ministerial counterparts from DHSC and the, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to discuss Departmental responsibilities during the migration. The Departments have collectively agreed a Telecare National Action Plan (TNAP) outlining each Department’s role during the migration to ensure that telecare users and other vulnerable customers are protected. As set out in this action plan, DSIT has agreed to lead on defining vulnerability with support from DHSC and DLUHC.
For more information regarding the work to define vulnerability, I refer the Hon Member to the answers given to Question UIN 21918 and 21919 on 19th April 2024.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department plans to provide funding to support local authority digital champions.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government has published information on the role of Digital Champions within the Digital Connectivity Portal. The Portal is an extensive online resource providing best practice guidance helping local authorities to facilitate digital infrastructure deployment.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/digital-strategy-and-leadership#digital-champion
Whilst there are currently no plans for the Government to fund local authority digital champions we believe they play a key role in advancing the digital connectivity agenda - and help local communities to realise the benefits advanced connectivity can bring.
The Government has also awarded over £36 million to local and regional authorities as part of its 5G Innovation Regions programme. The funding will support regions to create the right conditions to accelerate the adoption of 5G and other advanced wireless connectivity in key local sectors and attract investment in advanced wireless infrastructure.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on taking steps to help protect vulnerable people from crime during the digital switchover of telephony services.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
DSIT is coordinating the cross-government response to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) switchover. DSIT is engaging closely with counterparts in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) as well as the Local Government Association (LGA). DSIT is a member of the LGA’s working group which focuses on supporting local authorities with the PSTN migration, as well as the 2G/3G switch-off.
DSIT supported the LGA in publishing a guidance note for councils on how to raise awareness among residents, and seek to prevent and disrupt anyone from using the digital switchover as a means to advance criminal activity. The guidance can be found at the following address: https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/cyber-digital-and-technology/digital-switchover/digital-phone-switchover/digital-phone
DSIT also works closely with the Home Office, as the department responsible for crime policy, as well as Ofcom - the independent telecoms regulator - on a range of issues to tackle telephone enabled fraud and bring criminals to justice.
DLUHC’s Local Digital team is dedicated to helping councils digitise and transform their services so that they are modern and resilient. DLUHC’s “Future Councils” pilot programme has recently published a report identifying the most common challenges to digital transformation and is building on its findings.
Ofcom wrote to local government organisations on 17 January 2024 to reiterate the importance of ensuring that councils are prepared for any changes that may impact on the delivery of services when 3G and then 2G is switched off. The letter can be found via the following link:
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/275521/letter-local-gov-3g-switch-off.pdf
The Government has published information on the role of Digital Champions within the Digital Connectivity Portal. The Portal is an extensive online resource providing best practice guidance helping local authorities to facilitate digital infrastructure deployment.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/digital-strategy-and-leadership#digital-champion
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, is she will hold discussions with the Local Government Association to help define the role of a digital champion in supporting (a) the digitisation of council services, (b) the digital switchover and (c) the 2G/3G switch off.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
DSIT is coordinating the cross-government response to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) switchover. DSIT is engaging closely with counterparts in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) as well as the Local Government Association (LGA). DSIT is a member of the LGA’s working group which focuses on supporting local authorities with the PSTN migration, as well as the 2G/3G switch-off.
DSIT supported the LGA in publishing a guidance note for councils on how to raise awareness among residents, and seek to prevent and disrupt anyone from using the digital switchover as a means to advance criminal activity. The guidance can be found at the following address: https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/cyber-digital-and-technology/digital-switchover/digital-phone-switchover/digital-phone
DSIT also works closely with the Home Office, as the department responsible for crime policy, as well as Ofcom - the independent telecoms regulator - on a range of issues to tackle telephone enabled fraud and bring criminals to justice.
DLUHC’s Local Digital team is dedicated to helping councils digitise and transform their services so that they are modern and resilient. DLUHC’s “Future Councils” pilot programme has recently published a report identifying the most common challenges to digital transformation and is building on its findings.
Ofcom wrote to local government organisations on 17 January 2024 to reiterate the importance of ensuring that councils are prepared for any changes that may impact on the delivery of services when 3G and then 2G is switched off. The letter can be found via the following link:
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/275521/letter-local-gov-3g-switch-off.pdf
The Government has published information on the role of Digital Champions within the Digital Connectivity Portal. The Portal is an extensive online resource providing best practice guidance helping local authorities to facilitate digital infrastructure deployment.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/digital-strategy-and-leadership#digital-champion
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department takes with local authorities to gather evidence on differences between the experience of mobile coverage and the data provided by operators.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Ofcom is responsible for measuring and reporting on network coverage through its Connected Nations reports. Ofcom tests the actual coverage provided in various locations around the UK to validate the accuracy of the predictive data provided by mobile network operators.
The government recognises the value for everyone, including local authorities, of having access to accurate data. In the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, published in April 2023, the government asked Ofcom to improve the accuracy of their reporting on mobile coverage and to keep under review what they consider to be “good” network performance.
Working alongside Ofcom, we are exploring a number of different options for improving the accuracy of mobile coverage reporting.