Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities use access to broadband and mobile connectivity as a criterion within their settlement hierarchy assessments.

The Department does not collect data on how many local authorities use access to broadband and mobile connectivity as a criterion within their settlement hierarchy assessments. Authorities should gather and draw on appropriate evidence to inform the preparation of development plans and the National Planning Policy Framework sets out how planning policies and decisions should support the expansion and delivery of electronic communications networks.