Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on the proposed Three-Vodafone merger.
Answered by John Whittingdale
Ministers and Departmental officials regularly meet with Ofcom to discuss a range of telecoms issues.
It is the responsibility of the Competition and Markets Authority to assess the impact on consumers and competition in the market of the proposed merger between Vodafone and Three, with input from sectoral regulators.
The Government does not comment on specific mergers or acquisitions, which are subject to the UK’s stringent legal and regulatory requirements.
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to her Answer of 8 June to question 187868 on Artificial Intelligence and Life Sciences: Research, what proportion of UK Research and Innovation funds does research involving (a) humans, (b) human materials, (c) animal models and (d) non-animal technologies receive; and what steps UKRI is taking to increase the proportion of funding for non-animal technologies in relation to animal models.
Answered by George Freeman
It is not possible to break down UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding data in this way. The Government actively supports and funds the development and dissemination of techniques that replace, reduce, and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs), primarily through funding from UKRI for the National Centre for the 3Rs (NC3Rs). UKRI provide around £10 million funding per annum to the NC3Rs for research to develop 3Rs technologies.
The NC3Rs has committed to increase funding for technologies that replace the use of animals, including through their £4.7 million joint funding call with UKRI’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council for next generation non-animal technologies.
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she is taking steps to support research and development into (a) advanced cultures of human cells and tissues, (b) organ-on-a-chip technology and (c) artificial intelligence.
Answered by Paul Scully
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funds a portfolio of research involving humans, human materials, animal models, and non-animal technologies. This includes a recent £5 million investment by UKRI’s Medical Research Council in two new platforms as part of a human nervous tissue resources call; and a £4.7 million joint funding call by UKRI’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research focussed on supporting next generation non-animal technologies, such as organ-on-a-chip.
This complements work by UKRI including £1.6 million support for an AI in bioscience network.
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessments she has made of the potential impact of the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 on (a) Freeview frequencies for mobile services and (b) access for UK viewers.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government remains committed to the future of broadcast television and radio, and, in particular, to the future of digital terrestrial television (DTT), the technology underpinning the popular Freeview platform, which relies on suitable access to ultra high frequency (UHF) spectrum.
The Government has been supportive of Ofcom’s negotiations on behalf of the UK within the ITU and at a European regional level. They have been advocating for the inclusion of a ‘no change’ option, which would maintain broadcast’s priority access to the UHF spectrum.
In addition, from a technical and regulatory perspective, even in a scenario where mobile was granted an allocation at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023, and it is subsequently deployed in neighbouring countries, the UK would be able to rely on the ITU Radio Regulations, ITU Regional Agreements and existing bilateral TV broadcasting agreements with our neighbouring countries to ensure that DTT use of the spectrum in the UK can continue. Before any decisions about the future of DTT in the UK are made, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences.
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to protect the UK’s broadcast spectrum allocation at the 2023 World Radiocommunications Conference.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government remains committed to the future of broadcast television and radio, and, in particular, to the future of digital terrestrial television (DTT), the technology underpinning the popular Freeview platform, which relies on suitable access to ultra high frequency (UHF) spectrum.
The Government has been supportive of Ofcom’s negotiations on behalf of the UK within the ITU and at a European regional level. They have been advocating for the inclusion of a ‘no change’ option, which would maintain broadcast’s priority access to the UHF spectrum.
In addition, from a technical and regulatory perspective, even in a scenario where mobile was granted an allocation at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023, and it is subsequently deployed in neighbouring countries, the UK would be able to rely on the ITU Radio Regulations, ITU Regional Agreements and existing bilateral TV broadcasting agreements with our neighbouring countries to ensure that DTT use of the spectrum in the UK can continue. Before any decisions about the future of DTT in the UK are made, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences.
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what her Department's negotiating priorities will be on changes to the allocation of spectrum for broadcast services at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023.
Answered by Paul Scully
The government has been working with Ofcom, who represent the UK at the World Radiocommunication Conferences, to reiterate our commitment to broadcast implied through the renewal of the digital terrestrial TV multiplex licences until 2034. The UK’s preference at this stage is for ‘no change’ to the international spectrum allocation to broadcast at the 2023 conference.
It is important to note that even in the eventuality that a change to the international radio spectrum regulations is made at this WRC, the UK would still have the ability to take its own decisions domestically.
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the provisions of the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) 2003 and The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 governing planning permission to expand Fibre to the Premises broadband for designated communications network operators and to the length of notice such operators must give to the Local Planning Authority for the erection and siting of telegraph poles and excavation of pavements, what assessment she has made of the consequences for those provisions and notice of the (a) disruption to residents and (b) permanent effects of new telegraph poles; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (i) limiting the number of times new cable can be laid in the same street by different operators and (ii) giving residents a right to consultation over erection of telegraph poles.
Answered by Paul Scully
Access to digital services is increasingly important to businesses and consumers throughout the UK. The Government is committed to ensuring the right legislative framework is in place to ensure that there is a competitive broadband market and ensure that everyone receives the connectivity they need at a price which is affordable. At the same time, we recognise that the framework must take into account any effects on the local community.
Operators are given statutory rights to carry out streetworks and install apparatus on or below a street or road under Part 8 of the Electronic Communications Code. In addition, the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003 set out the circumstances where lines can be installed above ground and what the notice requirements are for doing so. Finally, operators are required to seek permission to carry out this work from the local highway authority and should also follow the Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice, a copy of which is here. Together these measures ensure that telegraph poles are placed appropriately, and local authorities and communities are engaged prior to their installation.
The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act, which received Royal Assent on 6 December 2022, includes provisions which make it easier for operators to share existing infrastructure, including underground ducts. This should help reduce the need for future new pole installations, reduce the costs of providing new services and encourage competition within the market. The Government will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the measures and compliance by operators with the measures set out above.