Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 6 December 2016 (HL3759), whether they are aware of instances in which an infrastructure provider has given false information to an elected parish council in order to avoid compliance with paragraph 1.2 of the Cabinet and Pole Siting Code of Practice on sharing infrastructure with other infrastructure providers; and if so, what action they have taken in response.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
We are not aware of an infrastructure provider giving false information to a parish council in relation to the infrastructure sharing guidance in the Cabinet and Pole Siting Code of Practice.
The Department received a complaint from a parish council about its proposal that a communications infrastructure provider could share a trench owned by a different provider as an alternative to erecting a new pole. My officials investigated the issue and I understand that the proposal was fully explored by the communications infrastructure provider but rejected on the grounds of cost and technical difficulty. A detailed explanation was provided to the parish council by the provider.
The Parish Councillor also asked the Department for the contact details of the secretariat for the independent working group, which is responsible for reviewing compliance with the Cabinet and Pole Siting Code of Practice. We provided these, and passed on details of his complaint to the group.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Press Recognition Panel is entitled, under powers granted to it by the Royal Charter, to advocate changes to English law.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie
The purpose of the Press Recognition Panel is to carry on activities relating to the recognition of self-regulators in accordance with the terms of the Royal Charter. The Press Recognition Panel is not prohibited from publishing information regarding the press self-regulatory framework delivered by the Royal Charter.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 29 November 2016 (HL3375), 6 December 2016 (HL3759) and 15 December 2016 (HL3986), whether the 2003 Code of Practice for Fixed Line Code Operators, as amended, applies to the erection of new telegraph poles for the delivery of broadband via both copper wire and fibre cabling; and whether it is permissible for a fixed-line operator which is a signatory to the Code of Practice to have a stated policy of non-compliance with some of the Code's provisions.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Cabinet and Pole Siting Code of Practice applies to the erection of new broadband telegraph poles and cabinets for the provision of fixed broadband services which includes copper wire and fibre cabling. Operators who deploy fixed-line infrastructure to provide such services should seek to comply with all of its provisions in relation to telegraph poles.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 29 November and 6 December (HL3375 and HL3759), who are the members of the independent group representing communications and planning interests which monitors non-compliance with the code of practice, and how the group can be contacted.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The independent review group of the Cabinet and Pole Siting Code of Practice was chaired by a representative of the Office of the Telecommunications Adjudicator and its membership comprised of representatives from the following organisations:
Openreach
Virgin Media
Sky
UK Competitive Telecommunications Association (UKCTA)
Planning Officers Society
National Parks Authority
The National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Historic England
The group can be contacted through its secretariat which is provided by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Representatives from other Government departments also attended meetings as required.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 29 November (HL3375), what action they propose to take against infrastructure providers who do not comply with the code of practice.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Communications infrastructure providers are obliged under the Cabinet and Pole Siting Code of Practice to have procedures in place to manage compliance complaints. Complaints should be escalated to a higher level in the provider’s organisation, and a full written response to the complainant provided in a timely manner, giving the reasons for accepting or rejecting the complaint. Providers are also required to keep records of the number of complaints received and the outcome taken to remedy any breaches.
Information about non-compliance or complaints more generally are fed into the regular reviews of the Code of Practice’s performance by the independent group representing communications and planning interests. They check that any breaches to the Code of Practice have been addressed appropriately and are able to make changes to strengthen the Code to improve compliance. Under the terms of the Code, regular reviews will be undertaken every 18 months, to ensure that the current high level of compliance is maintained.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the erection of telephone poles in conservation areas is compliant with the code of practice.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Pole and Cabinet Code of Siting Practice is kept under regular review to monitor its effectiveness and ensure compliance. Since its introduction in 2013 it has been reviewed twice, in 2014 and 2016 and will continue to be reviewed every 18 months. The reviews have been conducted by representatives of communications infrastructure providers, local planning authorities and the National Parks and have agreed that overall the Code of Practice was working well with a good level of compliance in relation to poles and cabinets being deployed sensitively in all areas.
Following the latest review the review group agreed to strengthen the guidance for communications providers when placing site notices for pole installation. A summary of the latest Code of Practice review is included in the Impact Assessment for Clause 7 of the Digital Economy Bill and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/digital-economy-bill-part-2-digital-infrastructure
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any proposals to enable two siblings to enter into a legally binding civil partnership.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government does not have any plans to amend the Civil Partnership Act 2004 to enable siblings to register as civil partners.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to hold discussions with the BBC about the future funding of the Ulster Orchestra.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government has no current plans.