Written Question
Friday 24th September 2021
Asked by:
Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question
to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
What steps her Department is taking to improve digital infrastructure and connectivity in rural areas.
Answered by Julia Lopez
- Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The government is focused on improving digital infrastructure and connectivity in rural areas, with our £5bn Project Gigabit and £1bn Shared Rural Network. As such, the government recently announced more details about our procurement pipeline, specifically, for the 2.2 million hard to reach premises in England in Phases 1 and 2 of the delivery plan.
Alongside Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network, we are continuing with our strategy to reduce barriers and to promote competition and investment.
Written Question
Friday 10th September 2021
Asked by:
Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question
to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Government target of at least 85 per cent nationwide coverage of gigabit capable broadband by 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Openreach’s proposed discounts on its competitors’ ability to attract investment, particularly those building in high cost rural areas.
Answered by Matt Warman
Ofcom, as the independent regulator for telecoms, is responsible for regulating pricing in the telecoms market for operators that it has determined have significant market power. Ofcom is currently consulting on Openreach’s proposed FTTP offer and whether it raises competition concerns, this consultation closes on 6 September 2021.
As referenced, the Government is targeting a minimum of 85% UK gigabit-capable coverage across the UK. It is the Government's view that the best way to achieve this target is to create a competition-friendly environment in areas where deployment is commercially viable while focussing government funds on the 20% of the country where commercial deployment is unlikely. As a result of this approach, there is now a thriving market of over 80 providers rolling out gigabit broadband all over the UK.
Our plan, to stimulate investment, bust barriers and drive competition, is working and we are on track for one of the fastest rollouts in Europe and for 60% of all households to have access to gigabit speeds by the end of the year. It is a huge leap forward from 2019, when it was just one in ten.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 22 Jun 2021
Events Research Programme
"The events research programme has been an invaluable lifeline for many flagship events. The British Grand Prix at Silverstone, due to be held between 15 and 18 July, is the UK’s largest annual sporting event, with more than 140,000 in attendance. It contributes more than £100 million to the local …..."Greg Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Mon 22 Mar 2021
Spring 2021 Covid-19 Road Map
"Thank you, Mr Mundell. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Nick Fletcher) on securing and opening the debate. I wish to speak particularly on the petitions before us that relate to gyms and fitness. It may be …..."Greg Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 08 Mar 2021
Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation
"I rise to speak in support of the Budget, which is a trifold balancing act in respect of continuing covid support, stimulus for recovery and fixing the public finances.
Faced with £335 billion in borrowing from the covid support schemes, the Chancellor has a difficult task, but I can help …..."Greg Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 15 Dec 2020
Online Harms Consultation
"I very much welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement today. Organisations like the Internet Watch Foundation have over 24 years’ experience in tackling threats to children online; indeed, the foundation played a huge role in reducing the percentage of vile, indecent images of children from 18% of such images held …..."Greg Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 08 Dec 2020
Gambling and Lotteries
"I very much welcome my hon. Friend’s statement as a vital step in bringing up to date the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005, but may I ask him for some reassurance about how any test of balance will be weighted so that prevention of harm can rightly take centre …..."Greg Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 02 Dec 2020
Coronation Street: 60th Anniversary
"I thank the hon. Member for Batley and Spen (Tracy Brabin) for securing this debate. We should also thank my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, because clearly he set the business for this week and ensured that the debates on the motions before us this afternoon were …..."Greg Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 14 Jul 2020
UK Telecommunications
"I add my voice to the welcome for this vital decision in the interests of national security. Building on the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mark Fletcher), although for many of my constituents in rural Buckinghamshire 5G will be game-changing, to put it bluntly, any reliable …..."Greg Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 25 Jun 2020
Covid-19: Support for UK Industries
"Having spoken to businesses across my constituency, where some 11,900 people have been furloughed and 4,300 people have been in receipt of the self-employed income support scheme, it is clear to me that many jobs have been saved —livelihoods, as well as businesses that have been built up with dedication …..."Greg Smith - View Speech
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