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 roll-out will be funded, if the investment of £1.2 billion of the £5 billion Project Gigabit will be allocated to the period from 2021-22 to 2024-25, and when the allocation of the further £3.8 billion will be announced.
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.