Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what data her Department holds on the number of silent calls received by emergency services on (a) ISDN and (b) SIP lines.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Emergency Services are operationally independent and have responsibility for the operation of emergency service control rooms that process emergency calls, as overseen by local Chief Officer and relevant Lead Government Departments, including Departments in the Devolved Administrations as applicable.
The digital transition is industry led and the emergency services are being supported by their respective communications providers. DSIT is working closely with the lead government departments for the emergency services to provide advice on areas of risk which has prompted actions from the emergency services to increase resilience measures.
DSIT does not hold any data on the number of silent calls received by the emergency services.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the impact of the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act in facilitating broadband network providers’ access to multi-dwelling units to make ultrafast broadband available to tenants.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act 2021 provides Electronic Communications Code Operators with the option to apply to the courts for time-limited Code rights to be imposed in situations where a tenant of a multiple dwelling building has requested an electronic communications service, but the landlord has not responded to repeated requests for access from the operator. This process is intended to be quicker and cheaper than applying to the courts for under the standard process set out in Part 4 of the Code.
My Department will continue to monitor the impact of this legislation through regular dialogue with His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service and stakeholders, but no formal assessment has been made since the provisions came into force in December 2022 in England and Wales, and July 2023 in Scotland.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many multi-dwelling unit freeholders are still to give permission to broadband network operators to upgrade their properties to gigabit-capable broadband.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
There are approximately 6.5m Multi-dwelling units (MDUs) in the UK, of which an estimated 75% have access to a gigabit-capable connection. Of those that remain to be connected, this may be for a variety of reasons, including commercial viability, whether they are eligible for public subsidy or because they are subject to the commercial build plans of network operators, which includes ongoing negotiations with landlords of such properties.
The Land Registry holds details of property interests in Land and Buildings in England and Wales, while the Land Register of Scotland, and the Land Registry of Northern Ireland, collect information related to Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively. While we recognise that not all land in the United Kingdom is registered, the Department expects operators to refer to these sources to ascertain the identity of the owner of a property.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many multi-dwelling units are excluded from the requirement that new build properties should have capability to host gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Building etc. (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2022 require developers of new build homes, including multi-dwelling units (MDUs), in England to install the gigabit-ready physical infrastructure necessary for gigabit-capable connections. Additionally, and subject to a £2,000 cost cap per premises, developers need to install a gigabit-capable connection. Where a developer is unable to secure a gigabit-capable connection within the cost cap, a next-best technology connection that is available within the same cost cap must be installed. This means first a superfast connection, and if this is not possible, at minimum a broadband connection.
The requirements do not apply to properties undergoing a material change of use, such as converted properties, which may form some of the MDU housing stock. This issue was considered during the Technical Consultation which ran from 21 December 2012 to 28 February 2022. However, there was a lack of evidence from the consultation responses to suggest that these types of properties should be in scope of the regulations. We do not have an up-to-date assessment of how many MDUs this currently applies to.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support network operators in identifying freeholders of multi-dwelling units so operators can secure the permission of freeholders to upgrade broadband infrastructure so it is gigabit capable.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
There are approximately 6.5m Multi-dwelling units (MDUs) in the UK, of which an estimated 75% have access to a gigabit-capable connection. Of those that remain to be connected, this may be for a variety of reasons, including commercial viability, whether they are eligible for public subsidy or because they are subject to the commercial build plans of network operators, which includes ongoing negotiations with landlords of such properties.
The Land Registry holds details of property interests in Land and Buildings in England and Wales, while the Land Register of Scotland, and the Land Registry of Northern Ireland, collect information related to Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively. While we recognise that not all land in the United Kingdom is registered, the Department expects operators to refer to these sources to ascertain the identity of the owner of a property.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she plans to take to help ensure (a) energy companies and (b) network operators can contact consumers on the Energy Priority Services Register during a power cut once the digital switchover is complete.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
DSIT is engaging with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to ensure robust measures are in place to mitigate any risks arising from the Public Switched Telephone (PSTN) switchover in the energy sector. The details regarding contingency plans and consumer prioritisation in the energy sector falls within DESNZ’s remit.
DSIT works closely on a range of resilience issues in partnership with industry, through the Electronic Communications Resilience & Response Group (EC-RRG), who engage in regular dialogue with the Energy Networks Association across a range of issues to help strengthen resilience between the telecoms and energy sectors.
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) also recently consulted on proposals to establish a multi-sector Priority Services Register to enable better data sharing between providers of gas, water, electricity, and telecoms providers, and allow consumers to be registered as vulnerable across sectors. The consultation closed in January 2024, with a response expected in due course.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department is monitoring how many retrospective checks have been conducted on forcibly migrated households to investigate if they had telecare devices.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
It is the Government’s utmost priority that vulnerable people and telecare users are protected throughout the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) migration. In December 2023, the UK’s major Communication Providers agreed to sign a PSTN Charter, committing to improve protections for vulnerable customers. The Charter can be found here:
As set out in the PSTN Charter, Communication Providers have agreed to conduct additional checks on customers who have already been forcibly migrated. This is with a view to ensuring that the customers do not have telecare devices that providers were unaware of, and if they do, to ensure that the correct support is provided to them.
The Government will be monitoring the Communication Providers’ adherence to the Charter through bilateral meetings and through asking the companies for written updates on their approach to the migration.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the impact of trials of flexible permitting for streetworks on supporting the rollout of gigabit-capable broadband.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government will shortly be trialling a more flexible permitting system, which would grant permission to work in multiple streets - as opposed to the current system which requires statutory undertakers to submit a separate permit for every street they work in. This would allow companies carrying out works to move from street to street quickly.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is working with the Department for Transport to trial this concept across England. DSIT have appointed an independent contractor to design, oversee and evaluate the trials, which we expect to commence in the second quarter of 2024.
Once trials have concluded, Ministers will consider the results of the evaluation, and decide whether a flexible permitting scheme should be introduced.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda)
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 local authorities on the switching off of the public switched telephone network.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
DSIT is coordinating the cross-government response to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) switchover. Government is taking the risks associated with this switchover very seriously and our primary objective is to ensure vulnerable people are protected throughout this necessary transition. DSIT is engaging closely with counterparts in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and the Local Government Association (LGA). DSIT is a member of the LGA’s working group which focuses on the switchover. DSIT will be submitting specific guidance to Local Authorities on matters related to the migration and is working to assess the impact that the PSTN switchover may have on Local Authorities.
BT Group announced its plans to switch off the PSTN in 2017, and many affected organisations, including some Local Authorities, have taken the opportunity to prepare for the transition since then. Upgrading devices to digitally compatible products will ensure they are compatible with a superior and more secure underlying infrastructure, future-proofing them for years ahead.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will provide additional resources to local authorities to effectively manage the switching off of the public switched telephone network.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
DSIT is coordinating the cross-government response to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) switchover. Government is taking the risks associated with this switchover very seriously and our primary objective is to ensure vulnerable people are protected throughout this necessary transition. DSIT is engaging closely with counterparts in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and the Local Government Association (LGA). DSIT is a member of the LGA’s working group which focuses on the switchover. DSIT will be submitting specific guidance to Local Authorities on matters related to the migration and is working to assess the impact that the PSTN switchover may have on Local Authorities.
BT Group announced its plans to switch off the PSTN in 2017, and many affected organisations, including some Local Authorities, have taken the opportunity to prepare for the transition since then. Upgrading devices to digitally compatible products will ensure they are compatible with a superior and more secure underlying infrastructure, future-proofing them for years ahead.