Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to introduce digital identity cards.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government has announced plans for a new national digital identity credential to be available to UK citizens and legal residents aged 16 and over. This will make it easier for people to securely access the services they are entitled to, where they want to, while also helping to prevent illegal working and deter illegal migration. Employers will be required to conduct digital right to work checks using the new digital ID by the end of this parliament.
We recognise the importance of both cybersecurity and privacy. We will consult and engage on the practical operation of the scheme, and the data structures underpinning it, as it is developed. The data for the digital ID scheme will be federated, as doing so is good practice for things like this. That means most data will stay where it is already safely stored, such as in HM Passport Office or other government departments, and only joined up if and when needed.
Following the Machinery of Government changes of 23/10/2025 policy responsibility now sits with the Cabinet Office.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
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 the adequacy of (a) indoor and (b) outdoor mobile coverage in Hullavington, Wiltshire.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Ofcom does not publish mobile coverage data aggregated to specific villages in their Connected Nations reports and data releases. However, your constituents who live or work in Hullavington can access the improved coverage checker, ‘Map Your Mobile’, on the Ofcom website to get information on likely indoor and outdoor mobile coverage at their address.
Accurate coverage data being available is crucial to understanding where coverage issues remain and to supporting consumers to make informed decisions about which network offers the best service in their area.
All communities should rightly expect to have the connectivity they need to participate in the modern digital economy. This is why it is the government’s ambition that all populated areas should have access to higher quality mobile coverage by 2030.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what guidance her Department has issued to internet service providers on fulfilling their licence obligation to ensure access to 999 calls from within the home in communities where mobile not spots exist.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
According to Ofcom, 88% of UK premises have 4G indoor mobile coverage from all four mobile network operators, with almost 100% having coverage from at least one operator. However, we know that there is a range of local factors, such as building construction, which can affect user experience. Ofcom also provides advice on potential options that could improve mobile coverage indoors on its public facing website via the link here.
DSIT has not provided guidance to internet service providers regarding their obligations, as that is for the regulator Ofcom to consider. Ofcom sets the regulatory conditions for communications providers through their General Conditions of Entitlement, which requires communication providers to ensure continuous access to emergency services via 999 and 112. In 2018, Ofcom published guidance on how all communications providers should meet this duty, including in relation to customers who are dependent on a landline and may not be able to get a mobile signal.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
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 ensure that households in areas with poor indoor mobile coverage have reliable access to the emergency services by 2027.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
According to Ofcom, 88% of UK premises have 4G indoor mobile coverage from all four mobile network operators, with almost 100% having coverage from at least one operator. However, we know that there is a range of local factors, such as building construction, which can affect user experience. Ofcom also provides advice on potential options that could improve mobile coverage indoors on its public facing website via the link here.
DSIT has not provided guidance to internet service providers regarding their obligations, as that is for the regulator Ofcom to consider. Ofcom sets the regulatory conditions for communications providers through their General Conditions of Entitlement, which requires communication providers to ensure continuous access to emergency services via 999 and 112. In 2018, Ofcom published guidance on how all communications providers should meet this duty, including in relation to customers who are dependent on a landline and may not be able to get a mobile signal.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department is considering requiring mobile network operators to provide indoor coverage data alongside outdoor coverage maps to ensure that service availability more accurately reflects the experience of rural communities.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Each of the main UK mobile network operators already provide indoor coverage data in their mobile coverage checkers which are available on their public facing websites.
In addition, Ofcom launched their improved mobile coverage checker, ‘Map Your Mobile, on 26 June 2025, which now better reflects people’s lived experience of mobile connectivity, both indoors and outdoors.
Indoor aggregated coverage figures for 4G connectivity are also provided in the Connected Nations data releases, published by Ofcom twice a year.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department is taking steps with (a) Ofcom, (b) mobile network operators and (c) local authorities to explore community-level infrastructure solutions to improve mobile coverage in rural villages in (i) Wiltshire and (ii) Gloucestershire.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Government encourages digital teams and planners within local authorities to work with Mobile Networlk Operators (MNOs) to improve rural coverage. We are also aware that many local authorities have carried out mobile coverage measurement surveys of their own to help inform them of mobile connectivity gaps.
Ensuring there is high quality mobile coverage right across the UK remains a priority for the Government, including in rural communities. However, it is for the market to determine how to deploy infrastructure to effectively achieve this ambition.