Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of plans to replace the copper wire communications network.

The modernisation of the UK’s telecoms networks is essential as the older networks are deteriorating and becoming unreliable.

However, it is vital that customers are safely migrated off the old analogue Public Switched Telephone Network to modern digital networks.

To strengthen industry’s plans, in November 2024, this Government secured additional safeguards - including identifying vulnerable people, the provision of free battery back-ups, and free engineer visits if needed.