Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Rural Broadband

Thursday 1 December 2022 · 5 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 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK Government investing 5 billion through Project Gigabit to expand broadband coverage in rural areas.
  • Vouchers for gigabit-capable broadband installation increased to a maximum of 4,500 for rural and hard-to-reach areas.
  • Minister committed to working with the Welsh Government to accelerate broadband efforts in areas like Blaenau Gwent.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mark Menzies Con
Science & Technology Business & Trade Environment
Context

The MP is concerned about the progress of broadband expansion in rural parts of his constituency and elsewhere.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to expand broadband coverage in rural areas. The lack of broadband connectivity affects many communities, especially those on the margins of commercial viability. Residents are experiencing repeated delays and long wait times for fibre installation.

Answer from Julia Lopez

We are investing £5 billion through Project Gigabit to deliver lightning-fast, reliable broadband to hard-to-reach areas across the UK. We have increased the value of vouchers so that people can apply for as much as £4,500 towards the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband in rural and particularly hard-to-reach areas. The voucher scheme will be reopened across Lancashire soon.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The exact timeline for procurement contracts in Lancashire was not addressed directly.

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Q2 Caroline Nokes Con Romsey and Southampton North
Transport Science & Technology
Context

The MP's constituents in Nether Wallop, Over Wallop and Barton Stacey have faced changed criteria, delays, and inability to split postcodes for their broadband applications.

Question

I assure the Minister that the people of Nether Wallop, Over Wallop and Barton Stacey do not feel that Project Gigabit is delivering for them. They have seen changed criteria; an inability to split postcodes; delays in processing applications; being told they will not be able to reapply until 01/23 because the project will still not be procured for those areas. The voucher scheme remains suspended. They want answers and delivery, not news that the project is delivering in Cumbria.

Answer from Julia Lopez

We have launched two of our procurements in areas covering Romsey and Southampton North. The value of vouchers has been increased, allowing people to apply for up to £4,500 towards the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband in rural and particularly hard-to-reach areas.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The exact timeline for procurement contracts and the re-opening of the voucher scheme was not specified clearly.

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Q3 Mark Menzies Con
Science & Technology Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Residents of Station Road in Singleton, Lancashire have experienced repeated delays to the installation of fibre broadband, with no completion expected before 2026.

Question

While some rural areas enjoy great connectivity, many on the margins of commercial viability such as Station Road do not. How can we prevent our rural communities from falling ever further into a digital divide?

Answer from Julia Lopez

We have increased the value of vouchers to as much as £4,500 towards installing gigabit-capable broadband. We are assessing alternative procurement approaches to Lancashire, with a plan to reopen the voucher scheme soon.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific timeline for reopening the voucher scheme was not provided.

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Q4 Nick Smith Lab Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
Wales Science & Technology
Context

Only 10% of Blaenau Gwent has access to gigabit broadband, compared with a UK average of 72%. The swift roll-out of Project Gigabit is essential for levelling up the local economy.

Question

I am pleased for Cumbria but just 10% of Blaenau Gwent has access to gigabit broadband. Will the Minister ensure that areas with the least coverage, such as Blaenau Gwent, are prioritised first?

Answer from Julia Lopez

The Welsh Government leads on that procurement. We work closely with them to accelerate their efforts, and I am happy to look into specific circumstances regarding Blaenau Gwent.

Partly answered

Not addressed: A clear prioritisation timeline for Blaenau Gwent was not provided.

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Q5 Chris Elmore Lab Bridgend
Science & Technology
Context

Communities along the M4 corridor still do not have superfast broadband roll-out, despite companies claiming they cannot install within three miles of the motorway. The area has some of the lowest speeds in the UK.

Question

Communities along the M4 corridor still do not have superfast broadband roll-out; communities in Ogmore constituency have some of the lowest speeds in the whole UK. I ask her to raise this issue again with the installers to get it fixed, and ensure my communities have far better broadband connectivity.

Answer from Julia Lopez

I would be grateful if he could write to me about the specific companies causing challenges in his area, particularly those issues related to the M4 motorway.

Partly answered

Not addressed: A direct timeline for resolution was not provided.

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