Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to paragraph 1.20 of the Autumn Statement 2016, how her Department plans to determine the allocation of broadband investment.

In his Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced that the Government would invest over £1 billion in the UK’s digital infrastructure. This includes £400 million for a new Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund to boost commercial finance for emerging fibre broadband providers, which will be launched in early 2017. It also includes funding for further rollout of fibre broadband networks, which in partnership with local authorities across the UK who bid for fibre broadband connections, will prioritise faster connections for businesses and help build a better more productive economy for all. To facilitate the next wave of mobile technology, the Government will also fund a new programme of fibre and 5G trials. Further details of how this funding will be allocated will be announced in due course.