DCMS recall (Broadband)

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 21 Sep 2021 Closed: 7 Apr 2022 Parliament page
In January 2021 the Committee reported that problems with the rollout of superfast broadband across the UK meant that digital inequality risks compounding the economic inequality “harshly” exposed by the pandemic . In this inquiry the Committee will recall DCMS officials for an update on progress towards the Government’s revised … Read more
5 Recommendations
22 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
4 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 7 events
28 Apr
2022
Report published
7 Feb
2022
Correspondence
19 Jan
2022
Report published
6 Dec
2021
Correspondence
6 Dec
2021
Correspondence
4 Nov
2021
Oral evidence
2 Nov
2021
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
4 Nov 2021
View on parliament.uk
DCMS Recall (Broadband)
Imran Shafi · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Paul Norris · Building Digital UK Sarah Healey · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Susannah Storey · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering gigabitcapable broadband HC 743 19 Jan 2022 27 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
27 results
2 Recommendation Accepted
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
The Department has so far been overly reliant on the contributions of commercial suppliers in...
The Department has so far been overly reliant on the contributions of commercial suppliers in improving gigabit coverage. The Department is reliant on suppliers to deliver gigabit coverage to 80% of UK premises without subsidy. Between May and October 2021, … Read more
Government Response
BDUK will report further details on the coverage achieved by its different interventions in its performance report in July 2022, and then in the annual report and accounts from 2023.
HM Treasury
View details
3 Recommendation Accepted
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
We are not convinced by the Department’s assertion that it will meet its target delivery...
We are not convinced by the Department’s assertion that it will meet its target delivery of a minimum of 85% by 2025 despite having signed no new infrastructure subsidy contracts for Project Gigabit. The Department’s previous target proved to be … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation and BDUK’s 2022-23 corporate plan will include a baseline trajectory for the progress required each year and will report progress against this baseline annually, beginning July 2022. The department will address this recommendation in its letter to the Committee.
HM Treasury
View details
4 Recommendation Accepted
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
We are disappointed that the Department has still not taken significant action to remove barriers...
We are disappointed that the Department has still not taken significant action to remove barriers to rolling out Project Gigabit. Despite our recommendation earlier this year, the Department has yet to secure the legislative and policy changes that industry deems … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation and will provide a letter setting out progress on removing barriers to deployment and removing equipment from high-risk vendors, outlining specific actions already taken like introducing the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill and consulting on a proposed direction to public telecoms providers regarding their use of Huawei goods and services.
HM Treasury
View details
5 Recommendation Accepted
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
The Department’s approach to rolling out gigabit risks perpetuating digital inequality across the UK.
The Department’s approach to rolling out gigabit risks perpetuating digital inequality across the UK. The Department contends that it is taking an “Outside- In” approach to gigabit infrastructure procurement. As part of this approach, the Department identifies areas which it … Read more
Government Response
BDUK will strengthen its quarterly reports with further information on progress in UK gigabit coverage, including regional and national progress, rural vs. urban areas, and businesses vs. residential premises, sourced from ThinkBroadband.com and Ofcom's Connected Nations reports.
HM Treasury
View details
6 Recommendation Deferred
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
The Department does not have a detailed plan to ensure that those in the very...
The Department does not have a detailed plan to ensure that those in the very hardest to reach areas are not being left behind. The Department’s commitment to delivering 85% coverage by 2025 and full coverage by 2030 does not … Read more
Government Response
The department will need to reach three key milestones: completion of all remaining market surveys, signing a material number of contracts, and achieving sufficient clarity on the number of premises likely to be beyond the scope of the programme to be ready to form more robust profiles for the period beyond 2025 by Summer 2023.
HM Treasury
View details
1 Conclusion Not Addressed
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
We took evidence from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (the Department) on...
We took evidence from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (the Department) on its progress to date in achieving its target of reaching a minimum of 85% nationwide coverage of gigabit-capable broadband by 2025.
Government Response
The Department is responsible for delivering the government’s policies on increasing economic growth and productivity through improved digital connectivity, aiming for at least 85% of UK premises having access to gigabit-broadband by 2025 and plans to accelerate rollout to get as close to 100% nationwide coverage as is possible in that time. The Department expects that commercial operators will supply broadband infrastructure where profitable and is working with these operators to provide subsidies to build gigabit infrastructure in less commercially viable areas.
HM Treasury
View details
7 Conclusion Not Addressed
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
In our report of 8 January 2021, we recommended that the Department should clearly set...
In our report of 8 January 2021, we recommended that the Department should clearly set out what activities it intended to complete and by when to achieve its revised targets. As part of this, we recommended that it set out … Read more
Government Response
Response discusses the pharmacy early payment and salary advance schemes in the NHS.
HM Treasury
View details
8 Conclusion Acknowledged
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
In changing its target, it has also made changes to the type of technology it...
In changing its target, it has also made changes to the type of technology it plans to use to achieve gigabit broadband rollout.19 In 2019, the Department revised its target from full fibre to “gigabit-capable” broadband. Some stakeholders considered this … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights the UK's progress in gigabit connectivity, the number of companies involved, and the coverage achieved to date, attributing it to clear targets and a competitive regulatory environment.
HM Treasury
View details
9 Conclusion Acknowledged
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
In its letter to us ahead of our evidence session, the Department told us that...
In its letter to us ahead of our evidence session, the Department told us that there had been a rapid increase in nationwide gigabit coverage to 57% coverage in October 2021, up from 34% in November 2020.23 However, the most … Read more
Government Response
The government provides updated statistics on gigabit and full fibre coverage as of March 2022, attributing contributions to Virgin Media O2, Openreach, and alternative network providers.
HM Treasury
View details
10 Conclusion Acknowledged
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
The Department expects commercial operators will supply broadband infrastructure where profitable, and that this will...
The Department expects commercial operators will supply broadband infrastructure where profitable, and that this will provide up to 80% of the UK’s coverage.27 To achieve the additional coverage needed to meet its 85% target, the Department plans to provide subsidies … Read more
Government Response
The Department expects commercial operators will supply broadband infrastructure where profitable and is working with these operators to provide subsidies to build gigabit infrastructure in less commercially viable areas and is providing funding through the gigabit voucher scheme as immediate help for people experiencing slow broadband speeds in rural areas.
HM Treasury
View details
11 Conclusion Acknowledged
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
The Department has yet to sign the gigabit infrastructure contracts with commercial suppliers under which...
The Department has yet to sign the gigabit infrastructure contracts with commercial suppliers under which it would provide public subsidy for them to build in areas that would otherwise not get coverage as they are less commercially viable.31 The dates … Read more
Government Response
BDUK reported launching its first six procurements for up to 187,400 premises and provided its procurement pipeline for up to 2.3 million more premises to be included in contracts awarded by the end of 2024.
HM Treasury
View details
12 Conclusion Accepted
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
The Department told us that the reason it had yet to sign any new gigabit...
The Department told us that the reason it had yet to sign any new gigabit infrastructure contracts was largely that commercial operators hadaccelerated their plans for expanding gigabit coverage very rapidly. It explained that this has meant that it needed … Read more
Government Response
BDUK balances the need to be dynamic and responsive to the market’s plans while maintaining a minimum level of certainty. BDUK has implemented a process for surveying contract areas to understand suppliers’ commercial build plans. BDUK has streamlined its procurement process, while maintaining Public Contracting Regulations and Cabinet Office best practice.
HM Treasury
View details
13 Conclusion Acknowledged
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
We asked the Department about concerns among some of our constituents who are feeling increasingly...
We asked the Department about concerns among some of our constituents who are feeling increasingly left behind as a result of private sector roll-out to the more commercially viable parts of constituencies. We asked it why its planning was slipping … Read more
Government Response
BDUK balances the need to be dynamic and responsive to the market’s plans while maintaining a minimum level of certainty that suppliers will build viable networks to uncommercial areas and consequently ensure appropriate value for money.
HM Treasury
View details
14 Conclusion Accepted
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
In our January 2021 report we concluded that the Department had failed to make meaningful...
In our January 2021 report we concluded that the Department had failed to make meaningful progress in tackling barriers faced by operators in maximising gigabit connectivity. We noted that it had yet to secure the legislative and policy changes that … Read more
Government Response
The department has introduced the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill, worked with the DfT and industry to implement and trial further reforms to streetworks and permitting, published a statutory technical consultation on ‘new build’ home gigabit-capable connectivity, introduced changes to permitted development rights, and taken steps to make it easier and quicker to deploy mobile equipment on local authority buildings and street furniture.
HM Treasury
View details
15 Conclusion Acknowledged
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
The Department’s answers during our more recent evidence session suggested that it is still not...
The Department’s answers during our more recent evidence session suggested that it is still not making progress at pace in tackling barriers to gigabit roll out. For example, the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act 2021 (TILPA) received Royal Assent on … Read more
Government Response
The department has introduced the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill, worked with DfT and industry to implement and trial further reforms to streetworks and permitting, published a statutory technical consultation on ‘new build’ home gigabit-capable connectivity, introduced changes to permitted development rights, and taken steps to make it easier and quicker to deploy mobile equipment on local authority buildings and street furniture.
HM Treasury
View details
16 Conclusion Accepted
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
The Department also held a technical consultation on the regulations needed to implement the Telecommunications...
The Department also held a technical consultation on the regulations needed to implement the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act from June to August 2021. However, it has not yet published either the findings of the consultation or its response to … Read more
Government Response
The department has introduced the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill, worked with the DfT and industry to implement and trial further reforms to streetworks and permitting, published a statutory technical consultation on ‘new build’ home gigabit-capable connectivity, introduced changes to permitted development rights, and taken steps to make it easier and quicker to deploy mobile equipment on local authority buildings and street furniture.
HM Treasury
View details
17 Conclusion Accepted
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
Stakeholders also suggested that there were areas where the Department’s approach to removing barriers to...
Stakeholders also suggested that there were areas where the Department’s approach to removing barriers to rolling out gigabit-capable infrastructure could be strengthened further.53 This was particularly the case regarding “wayleaves,” which are contractual agreements between landowners and telecommunications providers about … Read more
Government Response
The department has introduced the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill, worked with the DfT and industry to implement and trial further reforms to streetworks and permitting, published a statutory technical consultation on ‘new build’ home gigabit-capable connectivity, introduced changes to permitted development rights, and taken steps to make it easier and quicker to deploy mobile equipment on local authority buildings and street furniture.
HM Treasury
View details
18 Conclusion Not Addressed
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
We asked the Department when we will see progress on the ground with regards to...
We asked the Department when we will see progress on the ground with regards to wayleaves. It told us that although the Electronics Communications Code, which is where the wayleaves issue is addressed, was reformed in 2017, it can go … Read more
Government Response
The government outlines its advice to telecoms operators regarding their use of Huawei equipment and its intention to consult on a proposed direction to public telecoms providers regarding their use of Huawei goods and services.
HM Treasury
View details
19 Conclusion Deferred
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
The government’s decision in July 2020 to reduce its dependency on technology originating from certain...
The government’s decision in July 2020 to reduce its dependency on technology originating from certain high-risk vendors could introduce delays and additional expense to nationwide roll-out.61 The Department estimated that the removal of high-risk vendors’ 52 DRB0004 DCMS recall (Broadband), … Read more
Government Response
BDUK will publish its profile to reach at least 5% of non-commercial premises by the end of 2025 in its 2022-23 corporate plan and will continue to publish quarterly updates. The department will publish further details later this year on policy options for premises beyond the scope of the programme.
HM Treasury
View details
20 Conclusion Accepted
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
In our report in January 2021, we found that the Department was still developing its...
In our report in January 2021, we found that the Department was still developing its £5 billion programme to subsidise roll-out to the hardest to reach 20% of the UK’s 31 million premises and could not tell us when it … Read more
Government Response
BDUK's programme strategy and design of its interventions balances the need to be dynamic and responsive to the market’s plans while maintaining a minimum level of certainty and has implemented a robust process for surveying contract areas to understand suppliers’ commercial build plans. BDUK reviews its procurement approach following each round of procurements.
HM Treasury
View details
21 Conclusion Accepted
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
We asked the Department why it had not just pressed ahead with the areas that...
We asked the Department why it had not just pressed ahead with the areas that it already knows are commercially unviable in the long term. It pointed us to Cumbria which had recently “been procured” and said that Cambridgeshire was … Read more
Government Response
BDUK balances the need to be dynamic and responsive to the market’s plans while maintaining a minimum level of certainty. BDUK has implemented a process for surveying contract areas to understand suppliers’ commercial build plans. BDUK has streamlined its procurement process, while maintaining Public Contracting Regulations and Cabinet Office best practice.
HM Treasury
View details
22 Conclusion Deferred
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
Those areas that currently have sub-superfast broadband speeds (30 Mbps or below) are more likely...
Those areas that currently have sub-superfast broadband speeds (30 Mbps or below) are more likely to be in the 20% of premises that the Department thinks will be unviable for commercial providers. Only 21% of premises in rural ‘county areas’ … Read more
Government Response
BDUK will publish its profile to reach at least 5% of non-commercial premises by the end of 2025 in its 2022-23 corporate plan and will continue to publish quarterly updates. The department will publish further details later this year on policy options for premises beyond the scope of the programme.
HM Treasury
View details
23 Conclusion Acknowledged
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
In our January 2021 report, we found that the most difficult to reach areas were...
In our January 2021 report, we found that the most difficult to reach areas were not neatly grouped together, and the Department was not yet clear how it would prioritise its interventions to ensure that they are served. As the … Read more
Government Response
BDUK will publish its profile to reach at least 5% of non-commercial premises by the end of 2025 in its 2022-23 corporate plan and will continue to publish quarterly updates on its pipeline of Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy contracts. A call for evidence was made to explore all possible options for improving broadband connectivity for these Very Hard to Reach premises, and the government published its response in February 2022.
HM Treasury
View details
24 Conclusion Acknowledged
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
The Department asserted that where there are variations found within urban areas, those pockets which...
The Department asserted that where there are variations found within urban areas, those pockets which are currently unviable are expected to be covered by commercial operators over the course of the next few years. However, should that not be the … Read more
Government Response
In March 2021, a call for evidence was made to explore all possible options for improving broadband connectivity for Very Hard to Reach premises, and the government published its response in February 2022. This evidence will be used to assess policy options to understand how best to address the small minority of premises that will be beyond the scope of the programme, and the department will publish further details later this year.
HM Treasury
View details
25 Conclusion Deferred
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
The Department regards 0.3% of premises in the UK as being “very hard to reach,...
The Department regards 0.3% of premises in the UK as being “very hard to reach, ” and acknowledged that these do not feature within its target of achieving full national coverage by 2030.77 These are typically the most rural and … Read more
Government Response
A call for evidence was made in March 2021, and the government published its response in February 2022, and will publish further details later this year after assessing policy options. The department will address this recommendation in its letter to the Committee.
HM Treasury
View details
26 Conclusion Deferred
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
At our last evidence session in November 2020, the Department told us that it was...
At our last evidence session in November 2020, the Department told us that it was assessing the value for money of alternative technologies for delivering the fastest speeds possible to hard-to-reach premises.80 The Department told us that it was looking … Read more
Government Response
The government published its response to the call for evidence in February 2022, and this evidence will be used to assess policy options to understand how best to address the small minority of premises that will be beyond the scope of the programme. The department will publish further details later this year.
HM Treasury
View details
27 Conclusion Deferred
Thirty-Second Report - Delivering …
We asked why the Department had not made more progress in identifying what would be...
We asked why the Department had not made more progress in identifying what would be needed to connect the hardest to reach areas and how it would ensure that people in these aren’t were pushed to the back to the … Read more
Government Response
A call for evidence was made in March 2021, and the government published its response in February 2022, and will publish further details later this year after assessing policy options. The department will address this recommendation in its letter to the Committee.
HM Treasury
View details
Government Response AI assessment · 27 of 5 classified
Accepted 10
Acknowledged 8
Deferred 6
Not Addressed 3
Total 5 recs + 22 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
7 Feb 2022 Correspondence from Sarah Healey, Permanent Secretary, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, re DCMS Recall - Response to follow up requests on National Lottery, Gambling and CRF, dated 31 January 2022
Parliament page
6 Dec 2021 Correspondence from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport relating to DCMS recall and Broadband, dated 3 December 2021
Parliament page
6 Dec 2021 Correspondence to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport relating to DCMS recall and Broadband, dated 2 December 2021
Parliament page
2 Nov 2021 Correspondence from Sarah Healey, Permanent Secretary, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, re broadband report, dated 22 October 2021
Parliament page