Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to paragraph 3.20 of the Autumn Statement 2016, if she will take steps to address broadband not spots in York and North Yorkshire with funding allocated for fibre broadband and 5G technologies.
Answered by Matt Hancock
At the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced that the Government would be investing an additional £1billion in the UK's digital infrastructure by 2020-21. The funding will support the market to roll-out full-fibre and future 5G communications, and, in partnership with local authorities, will help connect more homes and businesses across the UK. Further details will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the proportion of increased coverage of mobile signal to UK premises is since the December 2014 agreement with the four mobile network operators was secured.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
Since 2014, the number of UK premises with 4G coverage has increased by 17% - to 90% in 2015. In addition, more than 99% of UK premises have mobile coverage (Ofcom 2015 Connected Nations Report, http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/market-data/infrastructure/connected-nations-2015/). Coverage will improve further as mobile operators upgrade and extend their network to meet the licence obligations arising from the Government's December 2014 agreement requiring each operator to provide voice coverage to at least 90% of the UK's landmass by 2017.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what information his Department holds on how many telecommunications masts have been removed in rural areas since December 2014.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
Neither DCMS nor Ofcom hold consistent time series data on the number of masts used by mobile network operators. Analysys Mason's report on the Financial Impact of Electronic Communications Code Changes, published 17 May 2016, estimated there were currently 33,000 physical sites hosting mobile communications across the UK, consisting of mobile towers or rooftops.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many telecommunications masts were in operation in (a) England and (b) Wales in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
Neither DCMS nor Ofcom hold consistent time series data on the number of masts used by mobile network operators. Analysys Mason's report on the Financial Impact of Electronic Communications Code Changes, published 17 May 2016, estimated there were currently 33,000 physical sites hosting mobile communications across the UK, consisting of mobile towers or rooftops.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many telecommunications masts were in operation in rural areas in (a) England and (b) Wales in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
Neither DCMS nor Ofcom hold consistent time series data on the number of masts used by mobile network operators. Analysys Mason's report on the Financial Impact of Electronic Communications Code Changes, published 17 May 2016, estimated there were currently 33,000 physical sites hosting mobile communications across the UK, consisting of mobile towers or rooftops.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many new telecommunications masts have been erected in rural areas since the agreement with the four mobile network operators in December 2014 guaranteeing voice and text coverage from each operator across 90 per cent of the UK by 2017.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
Neither DCMS nor Ofcom hold consistent time series data on the number of masts used by mobile network operators. Analysys Mason's report on the Financial Impact of Electronic Communications Code Changes, published 17 May 2016, estimated there were currently 33,000 physical sites hosting mobile communications across the UK, consisting of mobile towers or rooftops.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Universal Service Obligation on broadband download speed for all properties will be achieved by 2016.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
Plans have been set out by the Government to ensure that every home and business can have access to fast broadband by the end of this Parliament. We will launch a public consultation early next year in preparation for the implementation of a new broadband Universal Service Obligation by 2020.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to increase investment and training in television production in Yorkshire.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
As part of the Government programme of establishing local television services, in the last year two stations have been issued with licences in Leeds and Sheffield that not only broadcast across Yorkshire but also provide career and training opportunities in TV. Screen Yorkshire, which has been in existence for over 10 years, has also been at the forefront of championing the film, TV, games and digital industries in Yorkshire. Some examples of programmes what have been filmed in Yorkshire include: Tyrannosaur, Death Comes to Pemberley, Peaky Blinders, Catch Me Deadly and the new film version of Dad’s Army for release next year. Under Section 337 of the Communications Act, Ofcom requires broadcasters through licence conditions to make arrangements for equal opportunities and training, and to publish observations on this annually.