Oral Answers to Questions

Greg Smith Excerpts

Wednesday 12th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Ian Murray]

This Government are fully committed to digitising the whole of Government, and I believe that the hon. Gentleman should share in that particular project. Project Gigabit, of course, is about getting citizens connected right across the country. We are fully committed to meeting the 99% target by 2032, but it is not just about broadband connectivity. It is also about mobile network coverage, and we are committed to making sure that that happens as well. The resilience of the system, including Government systems, is a key part of that project.

[Greg Smith (Mid Buckinghamshire) (Con)]

3. When she expects all rural communities to have a reliable mobile signal.

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Suffolk Coastal) (Lab)]

12. What steps she is taking to improve mobile coverage in rural areas.

[The Minister for Digital Government and Data (Ian Murray)]

This Government believe that all communities must have the reliable mobile coverage that they need, whether it is for staying in touch with loved ones or for accessing healthcare online. We continue to work closely with the mobile network operators to remove barriers and support investment, and that will ensure that people benefit from high-quality, resilient mobile connectivity right across the United Kingdom.

[Greg Smith]

I am grateful to the Minister for his answer, but villages in my constituency—less than 50 miles from where we all are now—such as Cuddington and Bryants Bottom still have zero mobile coverage. I have raised this issue with the Minister’s predecessor and all the networks. When are we going to get to a point where warm words about rural connectivity turn into actual rural connectivity?

[Ian Murray]

The shared rural network has already delivered for 95% of the UK’s land mass a year early, and we are fully committed to making sure that 4G is available to all our populations. If the hon. Gentleman wishes to write to me, I would be very happy to meet him about the specific notspots in his constituency.