Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what representations he has received on ensuring that telecoms operators and providers carry out adequate consultation with elected members and communities prior to the installation of telecommunications masts.

The Government consulted last year on changes to nationally set permitted development rights. We will be responding to the consultation shortly, including on matters where representations were received on consultation with elected members and local communities, in relation to telecommunications infrastructure.

Mobile Network Operators have also committed to following the Code of Best Practice on Mobile Network Development in England, which sets out best practice on community engagement, when deploying equipment. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has developed a new Code of Practice which will provide updated guidance on consultation with local communities.