Asked by: Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat - Orkney and Shetland)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department plans to launch a nation-wide public awareness campaign on the withdrawal of copper wire telecommunications.
Answered by John Whittingdale
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18th December to Question 6770
Asked by: Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat - Orkney and Shetland)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what guidance she has issued with the Secretary of State for Levelling up, Housing and Communities to local authorities on the costs of moving to digital telecare.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) both regularly provide information to local authorities about the PSTN migration. Officials from both departments also attend a Digital Switchover Working Group, hosted by the Local Government Authority.
DSIT is shortly looking to publish further guidance to local authorities about how the switch-off of analogue landlines may impact them. Among several other issues, this guidance will cover aspects of the provision of adult social care.
Asked by: Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat - Orkney and Shetland)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of the withdrawal of copper wire telecommunications to local authorities.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The change to digital landlines will affect many sectors of the economy, including services delivered by local authorities. We cannot definitively comment on the estimated cost of the upgrade on local authorities, since the services and devices vary from one local authority to another.
The Government engages regularly with local authorities to raise awareness of the PSTN migration. As part of that engagement, we have encouraged local authorities to collate and share cost data related to the migration with DSIT and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). We have also made clear that local authorities should plan ahead for how they may be impacted by the migration, including by considering the budgetary implications of upgrading outdated devices.
With regards to communicating the migration, industry is best placed to inform their respective customers. Communications Providers have varying strategies and timelines for the migration, as well as a better understanding of the needs of their individual customers. By contrast, there is a significant risk that a nationwide campaign would be misleading and counterproductive, for example by not giving appropriate advice to vulnerable customers.
That said, DSIT has published a webpage on GOV.UK about the PSTN migration as a way to increase public awareness. This resource provides guidance about how consumers can prepare for the switchover and where they can find additional information. The webpage can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-transition-from-analogue-to-digital-landlines. We also regularly engage with Ofcom and Communication Providers to discuss how best to communicate with end users, particularly vulnerable customers.
Asked by: Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat - Orkney and Shetland)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when he expects the bidders’ conference for the Space Flight 2 Programme to take place.
Answered by George Freeman
The Government is committed to becoming the leading provider of commercial small satellite launch in Europe by 2030, as set out in the National Space Strategy.
Further vertical launches are planned from Scotland as part of phase one of the Spaceflight Programme. The UK Space Agency is also currently developing phase two of the programme, which will seek to further ensure an effective UK launch capability, subject to business case approval. Further engagement with industry will proceed once approval has been secured.
Asked by: Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat - Orkney and Shetland)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when she plans to announce her next steps on the Spaceflight Programme.
Answered by George Freeman
The Government is committed to becoming the leading provider of commercial small satellite launch in Europe by 2030, as set out in the National Space Strategy.
Further vertical launches are planned from Scotland as part of phase one of the Spaceflight Programme. The UK Space Agency is also currently developing phase two of the programme, which will seek to further ensure an effective UK launch capability, subject to business case approval. Further engagement with industry will proceed once approval has been secured.