Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his announcement in the Autumn Statement 2022 on 17 November 2022, that gigabit broadband rollout will be funded, whether the £5 billion committed to project gigabit will (a) be maintained in cash terms, or (b) rise with inflation.

The Autumn Statement maintains the level of economic infrastructure spending as set out at the Spending Review 2021. That Spending Review confirmed investment of £1.2bn for Project Gigabit from 2021-22 to 2024-25 as part of the wider £5 billion commitment to the programme. The government remains committed to its targets to reach at least 85% gigabit-capable broadband coverage by 2025 and to reach nationwide coverage by 2030. Significant progress has been made towards these targets since 2019, with gigabit-capable access rising from 6% of premises in 2019 to 72% as of today. The government will confirm spending allocations beyond 2024-25 at the next Spending Review.