Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 27 Nov 2025
Oral Answers to Questions
"I am pleased to report that the House of Commons Commission agreed in October to seek accreditation from the White Ribbon campaign. The campaign does important work to prevent violence against women and girls by promoting equality, building networks and challenging harmful attitudes and behaviour. The accreditation process involves creating …..."Nick Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 27 Nov 2025
Oral Answers to Questions
"I thank my hon. Friend for her question. I am happy to help with her key point about messaging. Members, as employers, could implement a domestic abuse policy. To help with this, the Members’ human resources advice service has specific guidance and templates available for Members, and can support them …..."Nick Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 27 Nov 2025
Oral Answers to Questions
"My hon. Friend has a fair beef. The volume of unwanted emails received by MPs is a known problem, but no one yet has an easy solution. Testing of whether Copilot or other digital solutions can help with inbox management has taken place, but Copilot is unlikely to be the …..."Nick Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 27 Nov 2025
Oral Answers to Questions
"A new approach to proactively understand Members’ needs has been introduced by the Parliamentary Digital Service to shape improvements to digital services. Recently, its research informed a trial of a paid version of Copilot artificial intelligence with Members, including me, and with staff. To ensure that any new solutions meet …..."Nick Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 27 Nov 2025
Oral Answers to Questions
"In terms of paying more for Microsoft Copilot, there is a version that does come at a monthly cost...."Nick Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 27 Nov 2025
Oral Answers to Questions
"The Commission has taken steps to widen access to schools in terms of both volume and geographic spread, and these changes have led to an increase in the number of schoolchildren able to visit. More than 71,000 are expected to visit this year—an increase of over 20% since 2022—and we …..."Nick Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 27 Nov 2025
Oral Answers to Questions
"My constituency of Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney is 1,200 feet above sea level and we get snow a lot, so “Just be careful what you ask for” might have been good advice to that lovely eight-year-old. Of course, we need to improve access to this place. Fairer access to Parliament …..."Nick Smith - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 27 Nov 2025
Oral Answers to Questions
"The new education booking system is being devised to help with regional equity. The hon. Member has hit on a really important question about transport access to this place, as well as about places to stay overnight. I will look into that further and get back to him...."Nick Smith - View Speech
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Written Question
Monday 19th December 2022
Asked by:
Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question
to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the economic impact of the rollout of standalone 5G (a) in Blaenau Gwent constituency and (b) nationally.
Answered by Julia Lopez
- Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
In 2017, the government set an ambition for the majority of the UK population to have access to 5G by 2027. This has been met five years early, with basic “non-standalone” 5G - which uses 5G equipment on 4G infrastructure.
We expect the Mobile Network Operators to begin deploying Standalone 5G in 2023. This next phase of investment will help unlock the full potential of 5G as a foundational technology for the knowledge-based economy, to support uses in industrial and innovation in the provision of public services, bringing both significant economic and societal benefits to the UK.
We are developing a Wireless Infrastructure Strategy which will establish a new ambition for 5G rollout, and set out how the UK can realise the full socioeconomic benefits of advanced wireless connectivity. We aim to publish the strategy early next year.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 01 Dec 2022
Oral Answers to Questions
"I am pleased for Cumbria, Mr Speaker, but just 10% of Blaenau Gwent has access to gigabit broadband, compared with a 72% UK average. The swift roll-out of Project Gigabit will be essential for levelling up across our local economy, so will the Minister please ensure that areas with the …..."Nick Smith - View Speech
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