Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to improve a) broadband coverage and b) phone signal in rural areas in Kent.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is delivering gigabit broadband to 99% of UK premises by 2032 through a mix of commercial and subsidised roll-out and has an ambition for all populated areas to be able to access higher quality standalone 5G by 2030; this includes rural communities.

Subsidised broadband connections to harder to reach premises are being delivered via Project Gigabit. 8,750 premises across the 13 local authority districts in Kent are included in the scope of a Project Gigabit contract being delivered by CityFibre, of which c.2,550 premises have already received a gigabit-capable connection via the contract.

Following a recent consultation with suppliers on their capability and interest in further delivery through Project Gigabit in the areas previously covered by CityFibre’s contract, a procurement is now under way with Openreach for a new contract to provide coverage to as many of the remaining premises as possible in Kent.

Regarding mobile phone signal improvements, the rollout of higher quality standalone 5G is commercially led by the network operators, and all three have committed significant investment plans which align with the Government’s ambition. Government is undertaking a Mobile Market Review to assess what further action Government can take to support the sector in delivering comprehensive, high-quality connectivity; we expect to set out next steps later this year.

Government also remains committed to unlocking the barriers to the deployment of digital infrastructure. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to address broadband rollout in leasehold flats (multi-dwelling units). It was confirmed in the King’s Speech on 13 May that our proposed leasehold measures are being taken forward through the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill. In addition, we are pursuing reforms to the mobile planning system in England with MHCLG. Both Departments are carefully considering responses to the recent joint call for evidence on planning reform and we will determine next steps in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that patients are able to continue to receive hormone replacement treatment if there is an interruption to their shared care agreement.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Shared care arrangements are voluntary and involve a specialist clinician transferring responsibility for some aspects of a patient’s care, such as prescribing medicines, to a general practitioner. If a shared care arrangement cannot be put in place or is interrupted, responsibility for ongoing prescribing remains with the specialist clinician responsible for the patient’s treatment.

Found: Chambers (LD) Janet Daby (Lab) Emma Foody (Lab) Natasha Irons (Lab) Dr Caroline Johnson (Con) Sojan Joseph

Submit Evidence (by 21 Oct 2026)

In its latest advice to the government, the CCC said that climate change is already disrupting life in the UK and said that the UK’s national approach to climate adaption is “not fit for purpose”. It has also argued that the government’s third National Adaptation Plan (NAP3) is not adequately preparing the UK for climate change.