Oral Answers to Questions

Ian Murray Excerpts

Wednesday 12th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gagan Mohindra (South West Hertfordshire) (Con)]

2. What progress her Department has made on reaching its target for full gigabit coverage by 2030.

[The Minister for Digital Government and Data (Ian Murray)]

According to independent analysis, more than 89% of UK premises can access a gigabit-capable connection. We have recently reconfirmed our commitment to achieving nationwide gigabit coverage and expect 99% of premises to have access to a gigabit-capable connection by 2032. In the period up to 31 March 2025, more than 1.2 million premises in hard-to-reach communities across the UK have been upgraded to gigabit-capable broadband through Government-funded programmes.

[Mr Mohindra]

I thank the Minister for that answer, but it was the Conservative Government who brought forward Project Gigabit in order to ensure that everyone had access to a decent level of internet access, and some of my constituents continue to write to me saying that they do not have access in their areas. The Minister referred to 2032, but I think the previous commitment was for 2030; can he confirm what the target date is, whether for 99% or higher?

[Ian Murray]

The date is 2032: the Government are committed to ensuring 99% gigabit coverage by 2032. We have just rolled out 30 new Project Gigabit contracts across England, connecting 850,000 homes. The Government are fully committed to delivering this, and 2032 is the target.

[Catherine Fookes (Monmouthshire) (Lab)]

My constituents regularly tell me how frustrating it is to try to take work video-calls from home: they get the circle of doom. I know they are not exaggerating, because it happens to me too, especially when my kids are at home. Can the Minister update my constituents and me on Project Gigabit’s progress and plans for better broadband in rural areas?

[Ian Murray]

We all fear that circle of doom when we are on the internet, whether we are watching videos or doing anything else. Indeed, that is why the Government are committed to ensuring that everyone has that connectivity by 2032. Project Gigabit has just signed 30 new contracts for the hardest-to-reach rural areas, to ensure that everyone is able to enjoy gigabit connectivity across the country, and the reliability and robustness of the system are key parts of that.

[Dr Ben Spencer (Runnymede and Weybridge) (Con)]

Increased gigabit coverage means more people accessing essential services online and an increasing need for cyber-security measures and a strong, open UK market for cloud services. Following recent outages, what assessment has the Minister made of the risk to Government digital services due to their refusal to diversify supply away from US big tech and instead support UK small and medium-sized enterprises?

[Ian Murray]

This Government are fully committed to digitising the whole of Government, and I believe that the hon. Gentleman should share in that particular project. Project Gigabit, of course, is about getting citizens connected right across the country. We are fully committed to meeting the 99% target by 2032, but it is not just about broadband connectivity. It is also about mobile network coverage, and we are committed to making sure that that happens as well. The resilience of the system, including Government systems, is a key part of that project.

[Greg Smith (Mid Buckinghamshire) (Con)]

3. When she expects all rural communities to have a reliable mobile signal.

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Suffolk Coastal) (Lab)]

12. What steps she is taking to improve mobile coverage in rural areas.

[The Minister for Digital Government and Data (Ian Murray)]

This Government believe that all communities must have the reliable mobile coverage that they need, whether it is for staying in touch with loved ones or for accessing healthcare online. We continue to work closely with the mobile network operators to remove barriers and support investment, and that will ensure that people benefit from high-quality, resilient mobile connectivity right across the United Kingdom.

[Greg Smith]

I am grateful to the Minister for his answer, but villages in my constituency—less than 50 miles from where we all are now—such as Cuddington and Bryants Bottom still have zero mobile coverage. I have raised this issue with the Minister’s predecessor and all the networks. When are we going to get to a point where warm words about rural connectivity turn into actual rural connectivity?

[Ian Murray]

The shared rural network has already delivered for 95% of the UK’s land mass a year early, and we are fully committed to making sure that 4G is available to all our populations. If the hon. Gentleman wishes to write to me, I would be very happy to meet him about the specific notspots in his constituency.

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

In Suffolk Coastal, about three quarters of households have indoor service for voice calls, compared with the national average of over 90%. Across Woodbridge, Bawdsey and the peninsula, so many households rely on network coverage, but they have zero service. Will the Minister meet me to discuss this important issue, which affects not just my constituency but rural constituencies as a whole?

[Ian Murray]

Many Members raise with me the particular issue of notspots in their constituencies, as well as where connectivity is not as good as we would like it to be. I would be very happy to offer a meeting to my hon. Friend.

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

4. What steps she is taking to keep people safe online.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Minister for Digital Government and Data (Ian Murray)]

The hon. Lady raises an important question about digital inclusion, which is right at the heart of the Government’s strategy. We just heard from the Opposition that they are against digital ID and digitalising this country—[Interruption.] I knew my answer would be popular, Mr Speaker. I am very happy to meet the hon. Lady to talk about that specific project in her constituency.

[Markus Campbell-Savours (Penrith and Solway) (Lab)]

T3. The Information Commissioner’s Office faces constant criticism for weak freedom of information enforcement and sluggish decisions. Why must Britain lag behind countries like Sweden and Norway, where citizens routinely access information in under a week, and how can MPs meaningfully hold the commissioner to account?

[Ian Murray]

The ICO is operationally independent of Government and is accountable to this Parliament. The Information Commissioner can appear in front of Select Committees to discuss the ICO’s performance, and I would encourage my hon. Friend’s Select Committee to pursue that.

The Prime Minister was asked—