Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Technology what discussions she has had with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and DNOs on ensuring rapid restoration of power to telecommunications sites during major incidents.

My department works very closely with DESNZ on shared resilience issues. The Government aims to promote collaboration between the electricity and telecommunications sectors, so that when power cuts occur the risk of disruption to services is reduced and any unavoidable disruption affects as few people as possible, for the shortest possible time.

While most power outages are short-lived, severe events such as major storms can cause prolonged disruption. DSIT works with DESNZ, Ofgem, Ofcom, telecoms operators and electricity network operators, including DNOs, to reduce the impact of power disruption on telecoms infrastructure during major incidents. This includes recent steps to improve how operators share information, identify affected telecoms sites, support restoration planning, maintain clear escalation routes, and coordinate incident responses through the Electronic Communications Resilience and Response Group and the Energy Networks Association.

Alongside this, DESNZ’s forthcoming Energy Resilience Strategy will set out next steps for maintaining energy resilience and embedding resilience into the future energy system.