Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the publication of the Telecoms Diversification Taskforce Report on 20 April, whether the taskforce now been disbanded; and if not, what role and responsibilities the Taskforce now has.

The Telecoms Diversification Taskforce has completed its work and submitted its independent recommendations to the Government in April. The Taskforce will now transition to become the permanent Telecoms Supply Chain Diversification Advisory Council with Simon Blagden CBE as the new chair; as announced in the Government’s response to the recommendations published on 2 July. Many of the Taskforce members will continue to provide advice as part of the Advisory Council.

The Advisory Council will play a key role in overseeing and offering scrutiny to the delivery of the 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy. We will also draw on the expertise of the Advisory Council for wider telecoms supply chain diversification issues beyond the RAN (Radio Access Network).