Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has plans to expand regional tech clusters in the North West of England; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of locating new innovation hubs in Fylde constituency.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
My department is committed to enabling innovation-led growth throughout the UK.
UKRI invested £903 million in the North West in 2023-24. Funded activity in the region includes the £4.9 million, Lancaster University-led Cyber Focus project, and a project by Lytham-based Helical Technology to improve fault detection on mechanical assembly production lines.
Our new Local Innovation Partnership Fund will grow high potential clusters across the UK. It earmarks at least £30 million for each of the two Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities in the North West. All other places in the region will be eligible to bid into the competition.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps with the Secretary of State for Defence to improve mobile signal at military sites.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government wants to ensure that all areas of the UK benefit from reliable and high-quality mobile connectivity. This includes wanting those who serve, live or work at our military sites being able to access the same mobile services that others are able to. There are a number of considerations to consider, however, including access and deployment of digital infrastructure on or near key military sites. The Member may wish to attend the next Telecoms MP surgery I host, where he can set out any specific concerns.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what guidance is his Department provides to local planning authorities on balancing the need for digital infrastructure with environmental and heritage considerations.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Local planning authorities are responsible for determining applications for digital infrastructure, including telecommunications, in line with the National Planning Policy Framework which requires that planning decisions take account local environmental and heritage considerations.
In addition, the Department has published a Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England, and the Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice 2016 which provide practice on siting and design and encourages early engagement with communities and relevant local authorities to help balance the need for network deployment with environmental factors.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps is Ofcom taking to ensure telecommunications providers adhere to the Electronic Communications Code on the visual impact of broadband infrastructure.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003 include a requirement for operators to minimise the impact on the visual amenity of properties as far as reasonably practicable when installing apparatus. It is Ofcom’s role as an independent regulator to investigate any complaints from local planning authorities about telegraph poles sited in a way which is not consistent with these requirements. Ofcom has in the past opened investigations into whether specific operators have failed to comply with their obligations when installing apparatus. These can be found on Ofcom’s enforcement page here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/enforcement.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if his Department will work with wireless broadband operators to develop technology that is in keeping with local environments where it is installed.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Planning legislation requires operators to minimise the visual impact of new network deployments on the surrounding area as much as possible. We have set out guidance on how operators should do this in the Wireless Code of Practice. Operators have also committed to place additional antennas and cabinets at existing sites where possible, and only where additional capacity and/or coverage is needed will additional sites be built.
The Government is actively working with industry through our R&D programmes to support companies developing telecoms technologies in the UK, including equipment that matches local environments.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans his Department has to review the Electronic Communications Code on (a) broadband infrastructure and (b) local visual amenity.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
I wrote to operators on 16 August 2024 calling on them to consider revising the Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice to take into account communities’ concerns. The industry answered my call by convening the Telecommunications Poles Working Group, which has published best practice recommendations setting out expectations for operators who plan to deploy telegraph poles, including how to minimise the impact on the visual amenity of the local area. My department will monitor the impact of this new guidance before taking any further steps.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has provided guidance to telecommunications companies on addressing community concerns on the visual impact of broadband poles.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
I wrote to operators on 16 August 2024 calling on them to consider revising the Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice to take into account communities’ concerns. The industry answered my call by convening the Telecommunications Poles Working Group, which has published best practice recommendations setting out expectations for operators who plan to deploy telegraph poles, including how to minimise the impact on the visual amenity of the local area. My department will monitor the impact of this new guidance before taking any further steps.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what information his Department holds on the proportion of 6G mast hardware that is expected to be produced in the UK; and what steps his Department is taking to support UK-based 6G mast hardware manufacturers.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The development of 6G technology is still in its early stages and as a result DSIT does not yet hold any information on the proportion of 6G mast hardware that is expected to be produced in the UK.
The Government is actively working with industry through R&D programmes on advanced connectivity to support companies developing technologies in the UK that could form part of 6G. DSIT is also working closely with the Department of Business and Trade to understand the supply chain of critical technologies, like 5G and in time 6G.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions his Department has had with (a) local authorities and (b) people living in areas in which 6G masts are proposed on the (i) location and (ii) visual impact of those masts.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government has not yet had discussions with local authorities or residents on the location of any 6G infrastructure to date. 6G technology will not be deployed in the UK or elsewhere until the 2030s based on current industry development and standardisation cycles.
Currently, ground-based radio masts up to 30 metres in non-protected areas, and up to 25 metres in protected areas benefit from permitted development rights. Prior approval from the local planning authority is needed on certain matters, including siting and appearance of any masts up to this height.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
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 ensure the (a) security and (b) resilience of 6G infrastructure against potential (i) cyber threats and (ii) foreign interference.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of the UK's telecommunications infrastructure. The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 introduced a robust security framework throughout the United Kingdom and requires public telecoms providers to identify, reduce, and prepare for security and resilience risks, including from cyber threats and foreign interference.
The development of 6G technology is still in its early stages, but Government is actively working with industry to ensure that cybersecurity and resilience requirements are addressed from the outset. Government is directly participating in the development of technical standards for 6G, working with industry to understand emerging security and resilience challenges, and actively supporting innovative solutions to cybersecurity challenges through our R&D programmes on advanced connectivity.