Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Internet Connections: Rural Communities

Thursday 18 November 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The telecoms market is thriving with significant activity on the ground.
  • Officials in BDUK are working closely with local organisations to avoid over-building in rural areas.
  • The Minister is committed to working with the Welsh Government to address the digital divide.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Selaine Saxby
Science & Technology Business & Trade Environment
Context

Rural areas face challenges in accessing high-speed internet, with some constituents still lacking superfast broadband despite government initiatives.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to help improve internet connections in rural communities. Some constituents in North Devon are not part of any roll-out programme and others are experiencing over-fibring by taxpayer-funded contracts. Will the Minister work with organisations like Connecting Devon and Somerset to address these issues?

Answer from Julia Lopez

The telecoms market is thriving, and there is a lot of movement on the ground. Officials in BDUK are working extremely closely with Connecting Devon and Somerset and local suppliers in Devon so that we can avoid over-build where possible. The Minister assures close contact throughout this process to ensure constituents get what they need.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request for more powers to edit contracts was not addressed directly

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Q2 Selaine Saxby
Business & Trade
Context

Some constituents in North Devon are not part of any roll-out programme, while others experience over-fibring by taxpayer-funded contracts. This highlights a need for better coordination to ensure efficient use of resources.

Question

I still have constituents in North Devon who are not part of either the rural roll-out programme backed by Building Digital UK or any commercial roll-out. However, some villages with commercial gigabit-capable fibre are being over-fibred by taxpayer-funded BDUK contracts. Will my hon. Friend work with organisations such as Connecting Devon and Somerset to give them more powers to edit contracts so that taxpayers' money is not used to over-fibre?

Answer from Julia Lopez

Officials in BDUK are working extremely closely with Connecting Devon and Somerset and local suppliers in Devon so that we can avoid over-build where possible. The Minister assures close contact throughout this process to ensure constituents get what they need.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request for more powers to edit contracts was not addressed directly

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Q3 Nick Smith Lab Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
Scotland Wales Science & Technology
Context

South Wales is experiencing a growing digital divide between cities and valleys, with Blaenau Gwent lagging behind in gigabit broadband roll-out. This disparity affects the local economy.

Question

The digital divide between cities and valleys is getting wider in south Wales. Gigabit broadband is essential for our economy, yet it has barely begun in Blaenau Gwent and we are being left behind. Will the Minister prioritise working with the Welsh Government and Ofcom to deliver better internet so that levelling up is not just a hollow slogan?

Answer from Julia Lopez

I am very keen to work with the Welsh Government, in so far as I can be helpful, with their roll-out. Officials agree about the importance of tackling the digital divide and are looking to do all they can to make sure there is not a disparity between those with great internet access and those who do not have it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific prioritisation request was not addressed directly

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