Emergency Services Network 2021-02-08
2021-02-08
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the progress of the emergency services network which has faced delays.
What progress her Department has made on the delivery of the emergency services network. I am concerned about the delays and the impact it may have on communities in my constituency who are still without adequate phone signals or 4G services, despite being promised improvements by this project.
The programme continues to make steady progress. The core network has been built, and much of the ultimate functionality has already been demonstrated. We are working hard to demonstrate the emerging product and agree realistic plans with users for the final stages of delivery and deployment.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details about delays or completion timeline
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the delivery of the shared rural network for emergency services, noting that his constituency suffers from connectivity issues.
I know that my hon. Friend knows the critical importance for the shared rural network of delivering the ESN. It is vital for my constituency, to deal with the notspots that are sadly all too common in mid-Wales. As well as the technical capabilities he outlined, will he update us on the delivery of the ESN, alongside the shared rural network, in Montgomeryshire and other rural areas across the UK?
We are rolling out the programme. After a difficult period last year, the programme is back on track. We expect to appoint contractors to allow the execution of the shared rural network later this year. I am more than happy, once we have clarity on the programme, to write to my hon. Friend with details of where and when he can expect his mast to be lit up.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific dates or locations for deployment
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the delays in opening up mobile telephone masts to commercial operators as was initially planned.
I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Like my hon. Friend the Member for Montgomeryshire, many communities in my constituency, in particular around Auchenblae, Drumtochty and the wider Mearns area, remain unable to get an adequate phone signal or even any at all. Having been promised that the emergency services network would contribute to solving that issue, many are still to be connected to decent 4G services. May I ask what the delay seems to be in opening up mobile telephone masts to commercial operators, as was initially planned?
We have experienced some delays not least on legal negotiations last year. Happily, those have now been overcome and I am confident that we can proceed with all speed to make sure that the shared rural network, alongside the emergency services network, is rolled out on schedule to 2025.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific reasons or timeline for legal negotiations delay
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is critical of the costs associated with the new emergency services network, which has spiralled to £10.3 billion, causing local police forces additional financial strain.
The new emergency services network, which is much needed to replace our outdated system, has become yet another embarrassment for the Home Office. Costs have spiralled to an eye-watering £10.3 billion and constant delays mean that the project will not be finished for up to seven years. Local police forces, already under strain from cuts and covid, have to foot a large part of the bill which has just increased by £600 million. That would fund around 8,000 new police officers yet when I asked the Minister about this in a parliamentary question he said that the extra cost was “minimal”. There is a pattern: £600 million is “minimal”; the catastrophic loss of 400,000 essential data records is brushed aside and still no answers given; and the Home Secretary breaks the ministerial code and we are all somehow to brush that aside as well. When will the Government accept that their incompetence is wasting taxpayers' money, delaying vital work and putting the public at increased risk?
The cost of the emergency service network is actually only £4.2 billion, not the £10 billion-plus that was quoted. We have made significant changes to the leadership team and reset the project which is broadly back on track with new joint decision-making system.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not fully address concerns about incompetence or admitting responsibility for delays
Under Review
Committed
Response accuracy