All 1 Debates between William Wragg and Oliver Dowden

Tue 10th Mar 2020
Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill
Commons Chamber

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Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill

Debate between William Wragg and Oliver Dowden
Oliver Dowden Portrait Oliver Dowden
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Of course it can be done now without Huawei, but what we have set out is, first, the cap, at 35%, and then the process of diversification to get from that point—

William Wragg Portrait Mr William Wragg (Hazel Grove) (Con)
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Will my right hon. Friend allow me?

Oliver Dowden Portrait Oliver Dowden
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I will allow one more intervention, but then I should make some progress.

William Wragg Portrait Mr Wragg
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Could my right hon. Friend kindly explain the rationale behind 35%? Why not a per cent. more or a per cent. less?

Oliver Dowden Portrait Oliver Dowden
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The rationale, as decided by the National Security Council, on advice from the agencies, was that that was a sustainable point—a cap from which we could start to work down. As my hon. Friend well knows, of course, there is a degree of arbitrariness in any number, but on balance it was decided that 35% was the appropriate place for us to land.