UK Inquiry Tracker

Improving Broadband

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 20 Oct 2020 Closed: 25 Mar 2021 Parliament page

In 2010, the government announced its aim for the UK to have the “best superfast broadband network in Europe”, and set up the Superfast Programme to subsidise broadband roll out to areas where it is not commercially viable for providers to reach. In a report published in mid-October, the NAO … Read more In 2010, the government announced its aim for the UK to have the “best superfast broadband network in Europe”, and set up the Superfast Programme to subsidise broadband roll out to areas where it is not commercially viable for providers to reach. In a report published in mid-October, the NAO finds that despite wide coverage , many people in the UK still experience poor broadband. Suppliers to the Superfast Programme were encouraged to prioritise roll out to the easiest to reach premises, which means there is a risk that those in the most rural and remote locations will be left further behind. Rural coverage of superfast broadband is now at 80%, compared to 97% in urban areas, and is the lowest in rural Northern Ireland, at just 66%. The existing broadband infrastructure has been put to the test by COVID-19, with concern that the pandemic has exacerbated the rural-urban divide. So far, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has prioritised increasing broadband coverage over speed. While superfast broadband is fast enough for most household use today, internet use is rising by 40% each year driven largely by video streaming and the focus is now on ensuring that the UK has a broadband network that will meet future demand. In 2018, to meet future demands of consumers and businesses, the government announced a new policy for the UK’s telecoms industry to provide infrastructure capable of faster gigabit speeds to 50% of premises by 2025, and nationwide by 2033. At present only 27% of UK premises are covered by gigabit-capable infrastructure. Only 14% can access full-fibre - one of the lowest rates in Europe. The government later committed to accelerating this target and achieving nationwide coverage by 2025. It is still finalising plans for its £5 billion Future Programme, supporting delivery to the hardest to reach 20% of premises, and has much work still to do and little time to do it by its own deadlines. The NAO says Government should set out whether the Future Programme will prioritise the hardest to reach premises first. Delivering these targets will require the telecommunications industry to reach approximately 31 million premises and lay around half a million kilometres of cable. This would require an estimated four-fold increase in building rates, which will be difficult to achieve in the hardest to reach areas. The final 1% of premises could be too expensive to include in the Future Programme at all – for these premises, alternative solutions to gigabit broadband will have to be found. The Committee will question senior officials at DCMS on how Government intends to reach its targets for the UK’s digital connectivity and ensure the UK has a “future proof” digital infrastructure. If you have evidence on the questions and issues raised in this inquiry please submit it here by 6.00pm Wednesday 4 November. Show less

5 Recommendations

17 Conclusions

1 Report

1 Oral session

1 Letter

1 Event

Activity timeline 4 events

29 Nov
2021

Correspondence

Correspondence from Sarah Healey, Permanent Secretary, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, re Improving Broadband, dated 23 N…

26 Mar
2021

Report published

Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Thirty fifth report from Session 2019-21

8 Jan
2021

Report published

Thirty-fifth Report - Improving Broadband

9 Nov
2020

Oral evidence

Improving broadband

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

9 Nov 2020

View on parliament.uk

Improving broadband

Raj Kalia · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Sarah Healey · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Susannah Storey · Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Thirty-fifth Report - Improving Broadband	HC 688	8 Jan 2021	22	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 results

7 Conclusion Acknowledged

Thirty-fifth Report - Improving Br…

We pointed out to the Department that a year has passed since the general election...

We pointed out to the Department that a year has passed since the general election pledge and with 2021 fast approaching, the level of roll-out would have to be extraordinarily quick to achieve nationwide gigabit connectivity by 2025.13 The Department … Read more

Government Response

The government reaffirmed its commitment to the £5 billion UK Gigabit Programme, aiming for at least 85% gigabit-capable coverage by 2025, and stated it would continue to work with industry to accelerate rollout towards 100%.

HM Treasury

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9 Conclusion Acknowledged

Thirty-fifth Report - Improving Br…

The Department describes the £5 billion it has budgeted for its gigabit programme as ‘critical’.

The Department describes the £5 billion it has budgeted for its gigabit programme as ‘critical’. It said that it was continuing as if the programme would gain approval from HM Treasury and expected the funding to be confirmed at the … Read more

Government Response

The government acknowledges the £1.2 billion allocated in the 2020 Spending Review as part of its wider £5 billion commitment to gigabit rollout, explaining the spending profile is based on industry capacity and reiterating its commitment to the full investment and accelerating rollout to achieve 85% coverage by 2025.

HM Treasury

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14 Conclusion Acknowledged

Thirty-fifth Report - Improving Br…

In its evidence to us the Local Government Association (LGA) called for additional annual funding...

In its evidence to us the Local Government Association (LGA) called for additional annual funding of £30 million for digital champions in Local Authorities. The LGA expects digital champions to co-ordinate delivery at a local level and to provide additional … Read more

Government Response

The government states it is meeting with local authorities to confirm alignment and will monitor the financial situation, but does not commit to providing additional funding for digital champions or assessing the risk to programme delivery.

HM Treasury

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20 Conclusion Acknowledged

Thirty-fifth Report - Improving Br…

Since we took evidence, the government has reduced its coverage target to “a minimum of...

Since we took evidence, the government has reduced its coverage target to “a minimum of 85% by 2025” and the Department has been allocated less than a quarter of the £5 billion for supporting the hardest to reach the countries … Read more

Government Response

The government confirms the £1.2 billion allocation for gigabit-capable broadband and the 85% coverage target by 2025. It reiterates its commitment to the full £5 billion investment and will continue to work with industry to accelerate rollout towards 100% coverage, but does not provide a new date for 100% coverage or increased immediate funding.

HM Treasury

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Government Response AI assessment · 22 of 5 classified

Accepted 16

Acknowledged 4

Not Addressed 2

Total 5 recs + 17 conclusions

Correspondence 1 letter

29 Nov 2021 Correspondence from Sarah Healey, Permanent Secretary, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, re Improving Broadband, dated 23 November 2021

Parliament page