Asked by: Philip Hollobone (Conservative - Kettering)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
What proportion of addresses have access to gigabit-capable broadband connections in (a) Kettering constituency and (b) England.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
88 per cent of premises in the Honourable Member’s constituency are able to access gigabit-capable broadband.
Across the UK as a whole, 66 per cent of premises now have access to gigabit broadband, up from six per cent three years ago. This means Kettering’s connectivity is above the national average and we are on track for gigabit coverage to reach at least 85 per cent of premises by 2025 and we are working to reach near-universal coverage as soon as possible thereafter.
Asked by: Philip Hollobone (Conservative - Kettering)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether all participants regardless of their covid-19 vaccination status are tested both prior to and after the event they attend in the large events pilots of the Events Research Programme; when and how those results are published; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Events Research Programme Science Board has planned for testing to take place both before and after each of the event pilots to ensure event safety and to gather evidence on the pilots. This will be for all attendees, regardless of COVID vaccination status, and there will be no requirement for participants to show proof of the vaccine.
The Events Research Programme (including DCMS, DHSC and BEIS) will report at the end of May to the Prime Minister, to feed into wider discussions around Step 4 of the roadmap.