Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to Written Statement of 21 July 2025 entitled Boosting growth by removing barriers to digital infrastructure deployment, HCWS867, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on extending the consultation on accessing blocks of flats to Scotland.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The consultation on legislative proposals to address broadband rollout in leasehold flats has been published on 15th December and closes on 16th February 2026. The proposals are based on leasehold law applicable in England and Wales. Whilst the consultation does not extend to Scotland, we continue to engage with the Devolved Nations on issues relating to the deployment of digital infrastructure, including deployments to blocks of flats.
Schedule 3A of the Communications Act 2003 (the Electronic Communications Code) provides operators rights to install, maintain and upgrade electronic communications apparatus to properties and applies across the UK. Part 4A of the code contains specific measures to address access issues in multi-dwelling units, including blocks of flats, when a landlord is repeatedly unresponsive.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure that multi-dwelling units can be accessed for the purpose of broadband installation in Scotland under schedule 3A of the Communications Act 2003.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The consultation on legislative proposals to address broadband rollout in leasehold flats has been published on 15th December and closes on 16th February 2026. The proposals are based on leasehold law applicable in England and Wales. Whilst the consultation does not extend to Scotland, we continue to engage with the Devolved Nations on issues relating to the deployment of digital infrastructure, including deployments to blocks of flats.
Schedule 3A of the Communications Act 2003 (the Electronic Communications Code) provides operators rights to install, maintain and upgrade electronic communications apparatus to properties and applies across the UK. Part 4A of the code contains specific measures to address access issues in multi-dwelling units, including blocks of flats, when a landlord is repeatedly unresponsive.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, with reference to Written Statement HCWS867, whether the devolution settlement would prevent the Scottish Government from taking any of the same actions in Scotland.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
We are working closely with the Devolved Governments on a range of issues related to the deployment of digital infrastructure. This includes improving access and collaborating to deliver Project Gigabit - the UK Government’s nationwide programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to UK premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans. In addition, the UK Government is supporting the Scottish Government’s Reaching 100% programme, which aims to ensure homes and businesses across Scotland have access to faster broadband.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the requirement to amend the Electronic Communications Code (2017), a reserved matter, to enable access to multi-dwelling units (MDUs) for broadband installation in Scotland; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of not including Scotland in the scope of any forthcoming consultation on the rollout of this digital infrastructure in Scotland compared to England and Wales.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We recognise the importance of gigabit-capable broadband connectivity for residents of multi-dwelling units (MDUs) across the UK. We continue to engage with the Scottish Government to understand if any measures are required to aid deployment in these property types in Scotland.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 83372 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, if she will publish the evidential basis behind the conclusion that the electric vehicle pavement channels grant is not a subsidy.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We have assessed the grant under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 and determined that it is not a subsidy.
A subsidy is financial assistance that conforms with the four tests set out in paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 2(1) of the Subsidy Control Act 2022. In this case, funding will be issued to local authorities who will pay for the installation of cross-pavement solutions at the appropriate market rate for this service. Payments for such installations will not ‘confer an economic advantage on one or more enterprises’ as set out in section 2(1)(b) of the Act, because installers will be paid at the market rate for such services. To the extent that residents who receive pavement channels are the indirect beneficiaries of the fund, they are not ‘Enterprises’ according to the Act.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of holding a consultation on reforming the Electronic Communications Code 2017 to help increase the way it reflects Scotland’s freehold property structure in multi-dwelling units.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
There are no plans to consult on reforms to the Electronic Communications Code. As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement on 21 July we will consult on policy measures later in the autumn to create a new right for leaseholders in England and Wales to request a gigabit broadband connection and a duty for freeholders to not unreasonably refuse the request. We are working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on the policy proposals and we will seek to legislate for these measures when parliamentary time allows.
We are engaging with the Devolved Nations on a range of issues relating to the deployment of digital infrastructure, including issues relating to access.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure tenants in (a) flats and (b) tenements in Scotland are included in the full fibre rollout; and whether she plans to publish a consultation on bringing forward legislative proposals to update access rules for full fibre.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement on 21 July we will consult on policy measures later in the autumn to create a new right for leaseholders in England and Wales to request a gigabit broadband connection and a duty for freeholders to not unreasonably refuse the request. We are working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on the policy proposals and we will seek to legislate for these measures when parliamentary time allows.
Scottish Tenements are a devolved matter and governed by Scotland. We're engaging with the Devolved Nations on a range of issues relating to the deployment of digital infrastructure, including issues relating to access.
Multiple Dwelling Units (MDUs) that remain not covered by commercial plans will be in scope for support for full fibre rollout through Project Gigabit.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment with her counterpart in the Scottish government on the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to allow broadband providers to access communal areas in multi dwelling units with majority owner consent.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement on 21 July we will consult on policy measures later in the autumn to create a new right for leaseholders in England and Wales to request a gigabit broadband connection and a duty for freeholders to not unreasonably refuse the request. We are working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on the policy proposals and we will seek to legislate for these measures when parliamentary time allows.
Scottish Tenements are a devolved matter and governed by Scotland. We're engaging with the Devolved Nations on a range of issues relating to the deployment of digital infrastructure, including issues relating to access.
Multiple Dwelling Units (MDUs) that remain not covered by commercial plans will be in scope for support for full fibre rollout through Project Gigabit.
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much and what proportion of the £25 million funding for Youth Hubs will be allocated to Scotland; and what estimate he has made of the number of youth hubs that will be supported.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are expanding our network of Youth Hubs to over 200 within the next three years, including in Scotland, to provide more accessible and joined-up employment support for young people. This investment ensures that young claimants, particularly those on Universal Credit, can access tailored employment and skills services in their local communities.
While employment and skills support remain central to the Youth Hubs offer, the expansion will also ensure a core minimum blueprint across all locations. This will connect young people to a wider range of services such as health, housing, and wellbeing support, based on local needs and partnerships.
This expansion will build on the strong foundations of existing Youth Hubs operating in Scotland, which will continue to evolve and align with the Youth Hub blueprint, ensuring young people benefit from high-quality, locally tailored services
Asked by: Stephen Flynn (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, why (a) fish processing was excluded and (b) poultry processing was included in the Energy Intensive Industries scheme.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The eligibility criteria for both the Energy Intensive Industries (EIIs) Compensation Scheme and British Industry Supercharger are based on electricity usage and trade intensity levels. Some EIIs therefore do not meet the thresholds necessary to qualify for support under either scheme. The Government will review the eligibility criteria for both schemes in 2026 to ensure our support for EIIs is effective, proportionate and targeted. We would encourage views from a wide range of stakeholders during consultations.