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

What recent steps she has taken to increase the (a) strength and (b) reliability of mobile phone signals in Scotland.

The Government wants the UK to have high-quality mobile coverage where people live, work and travel, including Scotland, and we are committed to extending geographic mobile coverage to 95% of the UK.

There is currently 77% 4G geographic coverage from at least one Mobile Network Operator for the Stirling Local Authority area, up from 49% in June 2017. We are in discussions with the Mobile Network Operators about their proposal for a Shared Rural Network to improve coverage. We will consider all options.

I also welcome Ofcom’s proposal for their forthcoming spectrum auction, which aims to deliver two operators to 90% geographic mobile coverage.