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
1 Recommendation
26 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
4 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 8 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
4 Nov
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
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
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
HM Treasury
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3 Conclusion
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
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: May 2022 3.2 BDUK’s 2022-23 corporate plan will include a baseline trajectory for the progress required each year for … Read more
HM Treasury
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4 Conclusion
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
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 4.2 To remove barriers to network deployment, the department has: • introduced the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill, to … Read more
HM Treasury
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5 Conclusion
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
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2022 5.2 Beginning with its next regular update (scheduled for Spring 2022), BDUK will strengthen its quarterly reports … Read more
HM Treasury
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6 Conclusion
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
2030. To build a credible and evidence-based profile for delivery beyond 2025 in the UK’s dynamic market, the department will need to reach three key milestones: • completion of all … Read more
HM Treasury
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1 Conclusion
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
Introduction from the Committee The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (the Department) is responsible for delivering the government’s policies on increasing economic growth and productivity through improved digital … Read more
HM Treasury
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7 Conclusion
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
2021. Greensill Capital marketed its salary advance scheme, Earnd, to NHS trusts from 2019 and charged no fee to employers and employees for using the service Based on a report … Read more
HM Treasury
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8 Conclusion
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
2.2 The UK has one of the fastest builds in Europe, becoming a leader in terms of gigabit connectivity by 2025. The department has achieved this by setting clear, ambitious … Read more
HM Treasury
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9 Conclusion
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
HM Treasury
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10 Conclusion
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
Introduction from the Committee The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (the Department) is responsible for delivering the government’s policies on increasing economic growth and productivity through improved digital … Read more
HM Treasury
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11 Conclusion
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
3.5 In the latest Winter Update (published February 2022), BDUK reported that it has now launched its first six procurements for up to 187,400 premises. It also provided its procurement … Read more
HM Treasury
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12 Conclusion
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
3.10 BDUK’s overall programme strategy and design of its interventions, including the procurement approach, balances the need to be dynamic and responsive to the market’s plans while maintaining a minimum … Read more
HM Treasury
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13 Conclusion
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
3.10 BDUK’s overall programme strategy and design of its interventions, including the procurement approach, balances the need to be dynamic and responsive to the market’s plans while maintaining a minimum … Read more
HM Treasury
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14 Conclusion
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
4.2 To remove barriers to network deployment, the department has: • introduced the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill, to encourage stronger relationships between telecoms operators and site providers. The … Read more
HM Treasury
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15 Conclusion
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
4.2 To remove barriers to network deployment, the department has: • introduced the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill, to encourage stronger relationships between telecoms operators and site providers. The … Read more
HM Treasury
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16 Conclusion
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
4.2 To remove barriers to network deployment, the department has: • introduced the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill, to encourage stronger relationships between telecoms operators and site providers. The … Read more
HM Treasury
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17 Conclusion
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
4.2 To remove barriers to network deployment, the department has: • introduced the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill, to encourage stronger relationships between telecoms operators and site providers. The … Read more
HM Treasury
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18 Conclusion
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
4.3 In 2020, the government announced advice to telecoms operators regarding their use of Huawei equipment, including advice to remove Huawei equipment from the 5G network by the end of … Read more
HM Treasury
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19 Conclusion
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
6.2 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. As well as achieving the 85% … Read more
HM Treasury
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20 Conclusion
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
3.10 BDUK’s overall programme strategy and design of its interventions, including the procurement approach, balances the need to be dynamic and responsive to the market’s plans while maintaining a minimum … Read more
HM Treasury
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21 Conclusion
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
3.10 BDUK’s overall programme strategy and design of its interventions, including the procurement approach, balances the need to be dynamic and responsive to the market’s plans while maintaining a minimum … Read more
HM Treasury
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22 Conclusion
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
6.2 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. As well as achieving the 85% … Read more
HM Treasury
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23 Conclusion
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
6.2 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. As well as achieving the 85% … Read more
HM Treasury
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24 Conclusion
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
6.5 In March 2021, a call for evidence was made to explore all possible options for improving broadband connectivity for these Very Hard to Reach premises. The government published its … Read more
HM Treasury
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25 Conclusion
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
6.5 In March 2021, a call for evidence was made to explore all possible options for improving broadband connectivity for these Very Hard to Reach premises. The government published its … Read more
HM Treasury
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26 Conclusion
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
6.5 In March 2021, a call for evidence was made to explore all possible options for improving broadband connectivity for these Very Hard to Reach premises. The government published its … Read more
HM Treasury
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27 Conclusion
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
6.5 In March 2021, a call for evidence was made to explore all possible options for improving broadband connectivity for these Very Hard to Reach premises. The government published its … Read more
HM Treasury
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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