Helen Morgan

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Question of 31st January is attached and I have placed a copy of the datasets in the Libraries of the House.

The Government understands the role data plays in delivering benefits in the public and private sectors and the UK has traditionally maintained high quality address data that supports a wide range of uses across the economy.

However, the postcode system is an operational tool, owned and maintained by Royal Mail, with its primary purpose being to ensure the accurate sorting, routing and delivery of customers’ mail. Royal Mail keeps this under review for its purposes.

Postcodes may be used for other purposes including by private and public sector organisations. The terms of access to the Postcode Address File are regulated by Ofcom, the independent regulator. However, other commercial products to identify locations for the purposes of deliveries and directions are also available.

We are supporting dairy producers, including through the Dairy Export Programme which resulted from £1m committed by the Prime Minister to boost UK dairy exports, especially amongst SMEs.

The Programme was agreed following consultations with UK dairy businesses and industry bodies. It is UK-wide and designed to unlock new opportunities for our dairy exports in growth markets around the world.

The Programme builds on existing work the department has been doing with the sector. For example, DBT recently supported a VIP cheese buyer tasting space at Anuga, the world-leading food fair in Cologne.

As of 1 January 2024, U.K. exporters can export cheese to Canada tariff free if they do so through a Canadian importer with a licence for Canada’s “non EU” World Trade Organisation quota.

These changes only came into effect at the start of the year, and it is too early to determine the full impact.

We will continue to work closely with U.K. cheese exporters to monitor the impact of the changes, including what this means for the relationships between Canadian import licence holders and exporters.

As of 1 January 2024, U.K. exporters can export cheese to Canada tariff free if they do so through a Canadian importer with a licence for Canada’s “non-EU” World Trade Organisation quota. We continue to work closely with U.K. cheese exporters to monitor the impact of these changes.

We will also work closely with the sector to ensure that U.K. exporters are in a strong position to take advantage of the Canadian dairy quotas that the U.K. will be able to access through CPTPP.

In the 12 months leading to and including October 2023, the UK exported 1.9 kilotonnes worth of cheese to Canada. This represented 1.1% of the UK’s global exports of cheese in this period.

The UK remains eligible for the tariff-free ‘non-EU Reserve’ of Canada’s WTO Cheese Tariff Rate Quota of 6.1 kilotonnes.

As of 1 January 2024, UK exporters need to ensure the Canadian importer they are partnering with has the correct import licence. Upon entry into force, UK exporters will also be able to access CPTPP quotas providing for 16.5 KT of cheese exports to Canada a year.

The Government will confirm plans with respect to the Clean Heat Market Mechanism in due course and will bring forward legislation as appropriate and when Parliamentary time allows.

The Alternative Fuels Payment (AFP) delivered £200 to around 2 million households last winter to support them with their energy costs. Since last winter, energy costs have fallen including the wholesale price of alternative fuels, and there are no plans to re-open the AFP. However, the Government is committed to supporting those most in need, with millions of vulnerable households receiving up to £900 in further cost-of-living payments this winter, with £300 to pensioner households and £150 to those on eligible disability benefits.

The Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) delivered £200 to around 2 million households last winter to support them with their alternative fuel costs, with 85% receiving this automatically. A small proportion of households who did not have a relationship to a domestic electricity supplier needed to apply for their support through the AFP Alternative Fund, which launched on 6 March 2023 and closed on 31 May 2023.

I recommend that any household who was not able to access this support, visit the ‘Help for Households’ on webpage on GOV.UK to see what other support they may be able to receive - https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/.

Ofgem’s licence conditions require energy suppliers to support consumers at risk of or in energy debt.

Citizens Advice and energy companies have jointly launched a campaign called, ‘Speak, Seek and Save’ to support consumers struggling to afford their energy bills. To get assistance, customers should first contact their energy supplier, and the supplier should create suitable payment plans based on the customer’s ability to pay.

Additionally, the government's 'Breathing Space' program offers support to consumers in debt by giving them legal protections from creditors for 60 days. Customers in debt can apply to a debt adviser for a breathing space.

We are currently writing to around 4.5 million households, informing people that either they will receive the discount automatically or, in some cases, advising them to call the helpline with further information to check eligibility.

We are also working with consumer agencies, energy suppliers and other organisations to ensure accurate scheme information and to help them to raise awareness and advise their clients appropriately where they might benefit.

DSIT is coordinating the cross-government response to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) switchover. DSIT is engaging closely with counterparts in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) as well as the Local Government Association (LGA). DSIT is a member of the LGA’s working group which focuses on supporting local authorities with the PSTN migration, as well as the 2G/3G switch-off.

DSIT supported the LGA in publishing a guidance note for councils on how to raise awareness among residents, and seek to prevent and disrupt anyone from using the digital switchover as a means to advance criminal activity. The guidance can be found at the following address: https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/cyber-digital-and-technology/digital-switchover/digital-phone-switchover/digital-phone

DSIT also works closely with the Home Office, as the department responsible for crime policy, as well as Ofcom - the independent telecoms regulator - on a range of issues to tackle telephone enabled fraud and bring criminals to justice.

DLUHC’s Local Digital team is dedicated to helping councils digitise and transform their services so that they are modern and resilient. DLUHC’s “Future Councils” pilot programme has recently published a report identifying the most common challenges to digital transformation and is building on its findings.

Ofcom wrote to local government organisations on 17 January 2024 to reiterate the importance of ensuring that councils are prepared for any changes that may impact on the delivery of services when 3G and then 2G is switched off. The letter can be found via the following link:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/275521/letter-local-gov-3g-switch-off.pdf

The Government has published information on the role of Digital Champions within the Digital Connectivity Portal. The Portal is an extensive online resource providing best practice guidance helping local authorities to facilitate digital infrastructure deployment.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/digital-strategy-and-leadership#digital-champion

DSIT is coordinating the cross-government response to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) switchover. DSIT is engaging closely with counterparts in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) as well as the Local Government Association (LGA). DSIT is a member of the LGA’s working group which focuses on supporting local authorities with the PSTN migration, as well as the 2G/3G switch-off.

DSIT supported the LGA in publishing a guidance note for councils on how to raise awareness among residents, and seek to prevent and disrupt anyone from using the digital switchover as a means to advance criminal activity. The guidance can be found at the following address: https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/cyber-digital-and-technology/digital-switchover/digital-phone-switchover/digital-phone

DSIT also works closely with the Home Office, as the department responsible for crime policy, as well as Ofcom - the independent telecoms regulator - on a range of issues to tackle telephone enabled fraud and bring criminals to justice.

DLUHC’s Local Digital team is dedicated to helping councils digitise and transform their services so that they are modern and resilient. DLUHC’s “Future Councils” pilot programme has recently published a report identifying the most common challenges to digital transformation and is building on its findings.

Ofcom wrote to local government organisations on 17 January 2024 to reiterate the importance of ensuring that councils are prepared for any changes that may impact on the delivery of services when 3G and then 2G is switched off. The letter can be found via the following link:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/275521/letter-local-gov-3g-switch-off.pdf

The Government has published information on the role of Digital Champions within the Digital Connectivity Portal. The Portal is an extensive online resource providing best practice guidance helping local authorities to facilitate digital infrastructure deployment.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/digital-strategy-and-leadership#digital-champion

The Government continues to remove barriers to broadband roll out, including making considerable legislative changes and publishing non-statutory guidance to encourage fibre deployment. As well as changes to the Electronic Communications Code, all new build homes are required to have gigabit-ready physical infrastructure installed, and gigabit-capable connections where these can be provided within a cost cap. The Department continues to work closely with both local authorities and operators to support the rollout of digital connectivity across the UK and has published the Digital Connectivity Portal, extensive guidance for local authorities and operators to help facilitate broadband deployment. We also continue to work with the Department for Transport to trial a more flexible street works permitting system.

Alongside this, Project Gigabit is the government’s flagship £5 billion programme to enable hard-to-reach communities, left out of commercial delivery plans, to access lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband.

Some of the hardest to reach parts of the UK are rural communities and therefore Project Gigabit will level-up mostly rural and remote communities across the UK. Most of our delivery volume will come through local and regional contracts and subsidies to suppliers to extend their gigabit-capable networks to premises that will not otherwise be reached by suppliers’ commercial plans. These contracts require the supplier to offer wholesale access to their network for other internet service providers to use, facilitating fair, open access to the infrastructure government is subsidising.

Most urban and suburban areas are already well served or part of commercial rollout plans, however, to reach our ambition of nationwide gigabit coverage by 2030, we recognise that pockets of poor connectivity in urban areas left out of commercial plans need to be tackled.

Work is ongoing to find solutions and define an appropriate course of action to ensure these premises are not left behind, solutions for these premises may involve working with suppliers and local authorities to enable commercial delivery rather than using public subsidy.

We believe that communities benefit enormously from the deployment of high quality digital infrastructure, with all the economic and social benefits it brings. We want to make sure that deployment happens efficiently, but at the same time, in ways that make sure the impact on communities and the environment is taken into account and broad support is maintained for the rollout of this critical infrastructure.

The Government is acutely aware of ongoing concerns about the installation of telegraph poles. On 20 February, the Secretary of State wrote to the Chief Executive of Ofcom regarding the 2003 Regulations, asking them how they could enforce greater infrastructure sharing.

We are actively considering a wide range of measures we can take to address these concerns, and to promote collaborative engagement between operators and communities. I will ensure that interested Members are made aware of any concrete steps my Department takes.

Telegraph poles play an important role in delivering efficient and cost effective coverage and connectivity to communities, particularly in hard to reach areas without costly and disruptive roadworks, or where existing infrastructure cannot be used.

Although permitted development rights allow telegraph poles and lines to be deployed without requiring case-by-case approval from the planning authority, these rights are still subject to certain restrictions and limitations set out in legislation. The Department issues no specific guidance on the permitted development rights for electronic communications.

However, we recognise that care must be taken when choosing where to site telegraph poles; ensuring that any potential disruption to communities is minimised.

That is why additional duties and obligations relating to telecommunications installations are included in the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003 (“the 2003 Regulations”) which Code Operators are required to comply with, such as requirements for all operators to share apparatus where practicable, and also to use underground, rather than overground, lines where reasonably practicable, with certain exceptions.

The 2003 Regulations also require that in certain PDR cases, the operator must notify the local planning authority of its intention to deploy certain apparatus, provided that they have no pre-existing equipment in the area. The local planning authority may give written notice of conditions with which they wish the Operator to comply in respect of the installation of the apparatus.

In addition, there is a Code of Practice (The Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice 2016) in place relating to the siting of cabinet and pole installations. It provides guidance on ways operators can ensure these installations are placed appropriately, and that local authorities and communities are engaged with regarding proposed installations. For example, it sets out that where new poles are to be installed the operator should place a site notice to indicate to nearby residents the intention to install a pole, and the proposed location.

As well as the Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice, the Digital Connectivity Portal provides extensive guidance for local authorities and operators to help facilitate broadband deployment, including technical information, and examples of best practice such as early engagement with communities.

Ofcom is responsible for measuring and reporting on network coverage through its Connected Nations reports. Ofcom tests the actual coverage provided in various locations around the UK to validate the accuracy of the predictive data provided by mobile network operators.

The government recognises the value for everyone, including local authorities, of having access to accurate data. In the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, published in April 2023, the government asked Ofcom to improve the accuracy of their reporting on mobile coverage and to keep under review what they consider to be “good” network performance.

Working alongside Ofcom, we are exploring a number of different options for improving the accuracy of mobile coverage reporting.