Oral Answers to Questions

Imran Ahmad Khan Excerpts

Thursday 20th May 2021 Commons Chamber

[Sally-Ann Hart (Hastings and Rye) (Con)]

What steps he is taking to improve digital infrastructure and connectivity in rural areas.

[Imran Ahmad Khan (Wakefield) (Con)]

What steps he is taking to improve digital infrastructure and connectivity in rural areas.

[Lee Anderson (Ashfield) (Con)]

What steps he is taking to improve digital infrastructure and connectivity in rural areas.

--- Later in debate ---

[Matt Warman]

It is of course welcome news that a commercial roll-out will reach more of the country than ever, but my hon. Friend raises an important point. This Government will make sure that no part of the country is left behind on that roll-out, which is why there is flexibility in the voucher scheme that she describes and why Project Gigabit is there to scoop up all the remaining premises. I am happy to discuss the villages that she mentions in person as well.

[Imran Ahmad Khan [V]]

I am pleased to see the Government delivering on their pledge to level up connectivity across the UK, including through the £1 billion deal to bring better mobile coverage across the country and banish rural hotspots. That will greatly aid constituencies such as Wakefield, which suffers from poor mobile coverage in some rural areas. Will the Minister confirm that his Department has already begun using this funding to improve mobile coverage in rural areas?

[Matt Warman]

It is good to see that working from home can provide a grander backdrop than this place. My hon. Friend is right to welcome the shared rural network. The roll-out has already started to benefit a large number of constituencies. It began in Wales and we will be talking in the coming weeks in much more detail about where it is going to benefit in coming years.