Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the phasing out of telephone landlines on residents in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

Landlines are not being phased out. The technology underpinning landline telephones is being modernised from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). VoIP enables clearer and better-quality phone calls, improved flexibility, and cost savings. Fibre cables are more resilient and less prone to damage during severe weather events.

However, the Government is committed to ensuring that any risks arising from the industry-led migration are mitigated for people across the UK, including in South Holland and the Deepings constituency and Lincolnshire. In November 2024, the Government secured additional safeguards from the telecoms industry via the non-voluntary migrations checklist, including battery back-ups, and free engineering visits if needed.