Broadband Coverage Rural Areas 2023-01-26
2023-01-26
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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The MP noted concerns about broadband availability and quality in her constituency, highlighting the need for progress on Project Gigabit.
What progress has been made by the Department to expand broadband coverage in rural areas? The government's programme promises improved connectivity but faces challenges in remote regions like North Devon. I ask what specific actions are being taken to ensure that all communities benefit from these initiatives.
The government is investing £5 billion through Project Gigabit to deliver high-speed broadband to hard-to-reach areas. Last week, a £36 million contract was announced for rural Cornwall, benefiting thousands of people. Six such contracts have been awarded, covering up to 681,000 premises. More procurements are in the pipeline and the voucher scheme has also been increased.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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The MP is concerned about the need to ensure that rural parts of constituencies receive broadband coverage comparable to metropolitan areas, crucial for the levelling-up agenda.
I thank my hon. Friend for her answer. We secured nearly £19 million from the levelling-up fund for Shrewsbury town centre last week, but true levelling up requires rural parts of constituencies having broadband coverage comparable to metropolitan areas in terms of both coverage and speed. Can you specify what actions are being taken to improve broadband availability in Shropshire?
The hon. Friend is correct that digital connectivity is key to the levelling-up agenda. We are prioritising procurement for some tough-to-reach parts of the country previously poorly served by broadband. In Mid West Shropshire, a procurement will be awarded in April to June this year and I hope his constituents will benefit from it.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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The MP is interested in the progress of the roll-out of rural broadband, specifically the new framework and guidance for fibre community partnerships and the gigabit roll-out.
Rural broadband has made significant progress over the past three years. Can my hon. Friend outline when the new framework and guidance for fibre community partnerships and the gigabit roll-out will be available to ensure the continued rapid expansion across North Devon?
The hon. Friend's constituency has seen substantial progress, thanks partly to political pressure. Openreach paused registration temporarily while reviewing current requests but we hope it will reopen soon. We are on track to launch the Devon and Somerset procurements in April this year.
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Q4
Direct Answer
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The MP met with CityFibre to celebrate the roll-out of full fibre in Inverness, highlighting its expansion into rural areas.
I recently met representatives from CityFibre to celebrate the roll-out of full fibre in Inverness. They are now moving into rural areas and have increased coverage significantly. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that companies like CityFibre can continue to operate competitively in rural markets, ensuring they expand further?
CityFibre has been fundamental in driving stiff competition which accelerated the roll-out. We thank CityFibre and other altnets for all they do. Our priority is a competitive framework, crucial to ensuring coverage for areas such as Inverness.
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Q5
Partial Answer
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The MP is concerned about the need for urgent action to ensure that rural areas, especially those with challenging topography like islands, get broadband coverage.
Levelling up means ensuring access to broadband for all. Often, just a green cabinet and small amounts of money are needed in remote rural areas. What confidence can people have that the Government will act in this Parliament? Other countries with worse terrain have seen their rural areas equipped with broadband years ago.
The hon. Gentleman's constituency faces particular challenges due to its rurality and island population. Much roll-out is driven by the Scottish Government's R100 programme, which has had issues we are assisting with. We keep a close eye on this to ensure every part of our country is covered.
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Assessment & feedback
specific assurance of action in Parliament not given
Keeping A Close Eye
Assisting Scottish Government
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Q6
Direct Answer
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The MP is concerned about the limitations of the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme in smaller rural villages within her constituency, specifically Lower Peover.
The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme is not working as intended for small rural villages like those in Tatton. Community groups found that the local authority contract includes commercially viable areas but excludes remote ones. Will she meet me and representatives from Lower Peover to address this issue?
The right hon. Friend's work has been crucial in ensuring Cheshire is connected. I have looked at Lower Peover's challenges with the voucher scheme and assure her that we upped the amount claimable to £1,500 per premises. I am always happy to meet Members on these issues.
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Q7
Partial Answer
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The MP is concerned about the impact of inadequate broadband coverage on essential services such as online shopping and postal deliveries, particularly in relation to banking services.
I thank the Minister for her answers and the help given by central Government at Westminster regarding rural broadband in Northern Ireland. Banking, online shopping, and postal services are impacted when broadband is poor. Has she had a chance to assess how these things impact on banking services in rural areas? We need support.
Good connectivity is essential for accessing online services including banking. Northern Ireland has made progress with gigabit connectivity from its contract with Fibrus. I am happy to look into any issues raised by the hon. Gentleman.
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specific assessment of impact not committed to
Happy To Look Into
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Q8
Partial Answer
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Families across the country will face a 14% rise in broadband bills from April. There are already more than 1 million households struggling to pay for internet services.
I wish to begin by echoing your words about Holocaust Memorial Day. From April, families across the country will face a 14% rise to their broadband bills, but, even before that increase, there were already more than 1 million households struggling to pay for the internet. Expanding gigabit coverage is vital, but it is pointless if families cannot afford a broadband package. How will the Department work with Ofcom to examine the impact of mid-contract price increases and wholesale prices rising by inflation?
I thank the hon. Lady for her question. She is right to highlight the cost of living challenges that are affecting so many households. We have worked hard on this. It is important that we have a stable regulatory framework that allows companies to invest, but we have hitherto had some of the most competitive telecoms prices in Europe and consumers have benefited from that. In relation to those who are really struggling with their bills, we have done a lot of work with telecoms providers on social tariffs. Unfortunately, the uptake of those tariffs is not where it should be, so I ask every Member of this House to help us raise awareness, because their constituents can get deals from as little as £10 a month.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific request about working with Ofcom to examine the impact of mid-contract price increases and wholesale prices rising by inflation was not addressed.
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