Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of holding a consultation on reforming the Electronic Communications Code 2017 to help increase the way it reflects Scotland’s freehold property structure in multi-dwelling units.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

There are no plans to consult on reforms to the Electronic Communications Code. As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement on 21 July we will consult on policy measures later in the autumn to create a new right for leaseholders in England and Wales to request a gigabit broadband connection and a duty for freeholders to not unreasonably refuse the request. We are working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on the policy proposals and we will seek to legislate for these measures when parliamentary time allows.

We are engaging with the Devolved Nations on a range of issues relating to the deployment of digital infrastructure, including issues relating to access.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 83372 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, if she will publish the evidential basis behind the conclusion that the electric vehicle pavement channels grant is not a subsidy.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We have assessed the grant under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 and determined that it is not a subsidy.

A subsidy is financial assistance that conforms with the four tests set out in paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 2(1) of the Subsidy Control Act 2022. In this case, funding will be issued to local authorities who will pay for the installation of cross-pavement solutions at the appropriate market rate for this service. Payments for such installations will not ‘confer an economic advantage on one or more enterprises’ as set out in section 2(1)(b) of the Act, because installers will be paid at the market rate for such services. To the extent that residents who receive pavement channels are the indirect beneficiaries of the fund, they are not ‘Enterprises’ according to the Act.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the requirement to amend the Electronic Communications Code (2017), a reserved matter, to enable access to multi-dwelling units (MDUs) for broadband installation in Scotland; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of not including Scotland in the scope of any forthcoming consultation on the rollout of this digital infrastructure in Scotland compared to England and Wales.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

We recognise the importance of gigabit-capable broadband connectivity for residents of multi-dwelling units (MDUs) across the UK. We continue to engage with the Scottish Government to understand if any measures are required to aid deployment in these property types in Scotland.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, with reference to Written Statement HCWS867, whether the devolution settlement would prevent the Scottish Government from taking any of the same actions in Scotland.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

We are working closely with the Devolved Governments on a range of issues related to the deployment of digital infrastructure. This includes improving access and collaborating to deliver Project Gigabit - the UK Government’s nationwide programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to UK premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans. In addition, the UK Government is supporting the Scottish Government’s Reaching 100% programme, which aims to ensure homes and businesses across Scotland have access to faster broadband.

Scottish Gaelic Status

Palestine Action hunger strike

Israel’s use of cluster munitions

Reduction to UK Official Development Assistance

Two-child limit

Found: Bathgate and Linlithgow) The following Members were members of the Committee during the inquiry: Stephen Flynn

Found: Bathgate and Linlithgow) The following Member was a member of the Committee during the inquiry: Stephen Flynn