Access to Digital Services North-east 2025-02-12
2025-02-12
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Small business roundtable in the north-east highlighted issues with digital connectivity. Constituency has high gigabit broadband coverage but concerns remain.
Recently, I attended a roundtable of small businesses in the north-east held at Sage, and a key theme was the need for good connections and digital services to help their businesses grow. Digital connectivity is critical, but it often holds people back. What are the Government doing to ensure that digital infrastructure is strong enough to support local businesses in constituencies such as mine?
It is right that not only do we need good online access to services, but businesses also need to be able to connect to those services. The Government are committed to delivering nationwide gigabit connectivity coverage by 2030. Over 94% of premises in her constituency can already access gigabit broadband, including the businesses she mentioned. However, I am happy to meet her to discuss further steps that could be taken.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for concrete steps now was not addressed beyond an offer to discuss it in a meeting.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
A new bookshop in Chichester has faced connectivity issues reported by Openreach, indicating a lack of connections in the city centre. The issue is impacting immediate business operations.
The Sussex Bookshop opened in Chichester in December; now it cannot connect to any internet provision because Openreach reports no extra connections for the whole city centre. Reliable internet access is essential for small businesses that need to operate on both high street and online platforms. What steps are being taken to ensure these businesses have access right now, not just by 2030?
Businesses across the country should be able to connect, especially given today’s requirements. If the business in her constituency continues experiencing problems, my hon. Friend the Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms would be happy to meet her to discuss further.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask was not directly addressed; instead, an offer to meet was made without immediate action.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Only around 15% of UK SMEs use AI, lagging behind other countries like Denmark and Finland. The need for a detailed adoption roadmap is highlighted.
Digital services are important across the country for small businesses. However, only about 15% of UK SMEs use AI, which puts us well behind other nations such as Denmark and Finland. Will the Minister commit to publishing a detailed adoption road map covering essential upskilling, data centre capacity, tech vouchers, so that small businesses can deploy AI without being locked out by cost and complexity?
The hon. Member will have seen the AI opportunities action plan, which sets out our aspirations for this country, including opportunities for small businesses. The fusion of AI across the economy is top of the agenda. In coming months, she will see more activity on how we will do that.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask was not fully addressed; instead, a vague reference to future activities was made without concrete commitments or timelines.
Response accuracy