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Written Question
Digital Broadcasting: Rural Areas
Friday 8th September 2023

Asked by: Selaine Saxby (Conservative - North Devon)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to safeguard the provision of digital terrestrial television and radio broadcast services beyond 2040 for communities in rural areas; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by John Whittingdale

I refer my honourable friend to the answer I gave on 5 June 2023 to her question UIN 186801.


Written Question
Television: Digital Broadcasting
Wednesday 12th July 2023

Asked by: Selaine Saxby (Conservative - North Devon)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Media Bill on access to digital terrestrial television in the period to 2040.

Answered by John Whittingdale

The Government remains committed to the future of digital terrestrial television (DTT), the technology which underpins Freeview. Millions of households across the UK rely on DTT, particularly rural communities and older people.

We also recognise the crucial role that DTT services play in the wider UK broadcasting system, in particular in helping ensure that public service content continues to be widely available and free-to-air to all audiences.

For these reasons, the Government has already legislated to secure the continuity of DTT until at least 2034.

As the sector evolves, it is right that we continue to evaluate the future distribution of television services. To that end, and as set out in the Broadcasting White Paper, the Government has asked Ofcom to continue to track changes in DTT viewing and to undertake an early review on market changes that may affect the future of content distribution before the end of 2025.

Before any decisions about the future of terrestrial television are made, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on DTT as their primary means of watching television.

Separately, the Media Bill will reform decades-old laws to turbocharge the growth potential of our world-leading public service broadcasters (PSBs). The Government has published impact assessments for the draft Media Bill and, as is usual practice, an updated set will be submitted to the Regulatory Policy Committee for independent scrutiny, and published when the Bill is introduced.


Written Question
Radio and Television: Broadcasting Reception
Monday 5th June 2023

Asked by: Selaine Saxby (Conservative - North Devon)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure the continuity of (a) terrestrial television and (b) radio broadcast services for households that (a) live in rural areas and (b) do not have (i) access to broadband and (ii) sufficient broadband connectivity.

Answered by John Whittingdale

The Government remains committed to the future of digital terrestrial television (DTT) and national commercial digital radio services.

Millions of households across the UK rely on digital terrestrial television and radio broadcast services, and we expect this to continue over the next decade. This includes households in rural areas and the small number of households who do not currently have access to superfast broadband.

We also recognise the crucial role that digital terrestrial television and radio broadcast services play in the wider UK broadcasting system, in particular in helping ensure that public service content continues to be widely available free-to-air to all audiences.

For these reasons, the Government has legislated to secure continuity of digital terrestrial television until at least 2034 and national commercial digital radio services until 2035.

As the sector evolves, it is right that we continue to evaluate the future distribution of radio and television. To that end, and as set out in the Broadcasting White Paper, the Government has asked Ofcom to continue to track changes in DTT viewing and to undertake an early review on market changes that may affect the future of content distribution before the end of 2025.

Before any decisions about the future of terrestrial television and radio broadcast services are made, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on DTT as their primary means of watching television.


Written Question
Holiday Accommodation: Registration
Monday 31st October 2022

Asked by: Selaine Saxby (Conservative - North Devon)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish the outcome of the consultation on developing a tourist accommodation registration scheme in England.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government has not yet published a consultation on developing a tourist accommodation registration scheme in England.

In June, DCMS issued a call for evidence on the benefits and challenges presented by the rise in short-term and holiday letting seen in England over the last 10 to 15 years. This will inform the development of appropriate policy options, which the government intends to consult on later in 2022. The call for evidence closed on 21 September and we are now carefully analysing 4,000 responses to this exercise, which will help inform next steps.


Written Question
Telephone Systems: Optical Fibres
Friday 23rd September 2022

Asked by: Selaine Saxby (Conservative - North Devon)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the (a) progress of the nationwide switch from copper phone lines to fibre and (b) resilience of fibre phone lines in rural areas.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The move from traditional to digital telephony, known as Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) migration, is being led by the telecoms industry and not the government.

While DCMS meets regularly with telecoms providers to discuss the progress of their migration, we do not assess overall progress given each provider has their own schedule and plans for the upgrade including how and when they will migrate customers. Regardless, telecoms providers have said they remain committed to the 2025 deadline.

Telecommunications equipment is usually highly resilient and major outages are extremely rare. However, in general, fibre connections are less affected than copper cables by environmental factors, such as temperature and electro-magnetic fluctuations.


Written Question
Second Homes: Registration
Tuesday 15th February 2022

Asked by: Selaine Saxby (Conservative - North Devon)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Government's announcement for a consultation on a register for holiday lets, whether she plans for a comprehensive listing of second properties, where residents may be on the electoral register but do not use the property as their primary residence.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government intends to launch a consultation on a Tourist Accommodation Registration Scheme later in 2022, but will begin the process by launching a call for evidence in the coming weeks.

The call for evidence will seek views on a range of issues that arise from the increase in short-term holiday letting, not just on housing supply but also on matters such as compliance with health and safety regulations and the impact on anti-social behaviour.


Written Question
Broadband: South West
Monday 7th February 2022

Asked by: Selaine Saxby (Conservative - North Devon)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that customers in (a) the South West and (b) North Devon constituency have access to every broadband fibre connection on the wholesale market; and what steps he is taking with industry representatives to help ensure that customers have a choice of provider across the South West.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government is committed to delivering nationwide gigabit connectivity as soon as possible. Today, over 57% of premises in the South West - and 32% of premises in North Devon specifically - have access to a gigabit-capable network. By 2025 the government is targeting a minimum of 85% gigabit-capable coverage.

There is now a thriving market of over 80 providers rolling out gigabit-capable broadband all over the UK using a range of technologies, including full-fibre networks and fixed wireless solutions. This technology-neutral strategy means that not every premises in the South West - or specifically North Devon - will have coverage from every type of connection on the wholesale market when choosing a gigabit-capable service. In addition, State aid and Competition Law prevents the government from intervening directly in functioning markets such as telecoms. Whilst the government’s policy is to increase competition and investment in the telecoms market whilst lowering the barriers to entry, we cannot force providers to offer a service where it is not commercially-viable for them to do so.

In areas where network deployment is not commercially-viable and is supported directly by the government as part of Project Gigabit, contracts include requirements for the successful supplier to offer wholesale access over the subsidised network for up to 15 years after the network is built, and the procurement process differentiates suppliers on the choice of retail offerings they are able to bring. Further, DCMS is supporting various industry initiatives that are developing the wholesale market for smaller alternative network providers. Again, whilst the government can ensure winning bidders for its contracts offer wholesale access, it is a commercial decision for individual service providers themselves as to whether they wish to use these networks.


Written Question
Holiday Accommodation: Registration
Tuesday 18th January 2022

Asked by: Selaine Saxby (Conservative - North Devon)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the Government plans to begin the planned consultation on the introduction of a Tourist Accommodation Registration scheme.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government intends to launch a consultation later in 2022, but will begin the process by launching a call for evidence in the coming weeks.

The call for evidence will seek views on a range of issues that arise from the increase in short-term holiday letting, not just on housing supply but also on matters such as compliance with health and safety regulations and the impact on anti-social behaviour.

I have already begun the process of informally consulting with stakeholders across the sector on this issue. For example, in late December I held several roundtables with attendees from the private sector, Local Authorities, tourism representative groups and others.


Written Question
Telecommunications: Codes of Practice
Monday 11th January 2021

Asked by: Selaine Saxby (Conservative - North Devon)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Electronic Communications Code contained within the Digital Economy Act 2017 in delivering the rollout of digital infrastructure.

Answered by Matt Warman

My Department has been working closely with stakeholders within the private and public sector since the 2017 reforms to the Electronic Communications Code (the Code) came into effect to support their implementation and to understand their impact on this important sector. Over the summer and autumn, I have held a number of roundtable meetings with a wide range of stakeholders to discuss these matters.

We intend to consult on whether further reforms to the Code are necessary to support investment in digital networks, and will provide further details regarding the timing of this as soon as possible.


Written Question
Mobile Phones: Infrastructure
Monday 11th January 2021

Asked by: Selaine Saxby (Conservative - North Devon)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) other public sector landlords to support the delivery of infrastructure to improve mobile connectivity in their areas.

Answered by Matt Warman

Public sector landlords play a critical role in facilitating the delivery of greater mobile connectivity. We are keen to ensure that the public sector leads by example and that public property is readily available for digital infrastructure deployment.

My Department’s Barrier Busting Task Force regularly engages with local authorities across the country to advise on the deployment of mobile infrastructure. This includes the publication of guidance, for example on access to assets and valuation, and working directly with councils to encourage greater collaboration with the mobile sector and develop understanding of the Electronic Communications Code, which underpins rights to install digital communications apparatus. My officials engaged with Devon County Council in November and December of last year to advise on this issue.

In addition to our work with local authorities, both we and the Office of Government Property are continuing to engage with government departments and arm’s length bodies in order to provide them with training and guidance on access to public sector land.