Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that residents in rural communities can access emergency communications where there is a) limited or b) no reliable mobile phone signal.

The Government recognises the importance of reliable emergency communications in rural communities. If a customer's mobile network is unavailable, all emergency 999 calls automatically switch to another available network where coverage is present.

Where no mobile coverage is available from any operator, residents can continue to use alternative means of communication, including landlines and Wifi calling from mobiles where available.

The Government continues to work closely with mobile network operators to ensure there is high-quality digital infrastructure available right across the UK. Through the Shared Rural Network, a joint deal between government and mobile network operators, we are delivering new 4G coverage in areas where there was no coverage previously.