Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of renters being excluded from proposed measures to facilitate access to full fibre broadband on the level of digital inclusion.

The Government recognises the importance of digital inclusion and is committed to ensuring that people can benefit from access to fast, reliable broadband services. This is why we are working to ensure 99% of UK premises can access gigabit broadband coverage by 2032. Legislative measures being taken through the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill intend to remove barriers to gigabit-capable broadband deployment in leasehold flats. Renters living in affected premises may benefit where these measures support improved broadband availability in their building.

We continue to engage with stakeholders to understand the impacts of our proposals and consider their effects on residents, including tenants, as part of our broader objective of supporting nationwide access to high-quality digital connectivity, alongside continuing to expand our evidence base on digital inclusion, for example through our new Public Engagement Survey.