Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that full fibre broadband is available to all properties.

I am pleased to share that more than 98% premises in Waveney can access a Superfast connection, which is above the national average. Almost 61% of premises in Waveney have access to a full fibre, gigabit-capable connection.

The competitive and pro-growth regulatory environment we have created is enabling suppliers to expand their networks to reach more homes and businesses. Over 75% of UK premises now have access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection, up from just 6% in January 2019.

The Government is committed to working with broadband suppliers to ensure 85% of UK premises can access gigabit-capable broadband by 2025, and then for nationwide coverage by 2030. We are on track to achieve our target.

Project Gigabit is the Government’s £5 billion mission to deliver lightning-fast, reliable broadband across the UK. More than £1.2 billion of public subsidy has already been made available to broadband suppliers to extend their gigabit-capable networks to rural and hard to reach parts of the country. We have awarded eight contracts to date, and we have launched a further 18 procurements, which combined will deliver fast, reliable broadband to up to 850,000 premises that would not be reached by suppliers’ commercial rollout plans alone.

Support is also available through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, which provides a subsidy of up to £4,500 for residents and businesses in rural areas towards the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband via local community broadband projects.