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Select committee: Scottish Affairs Committee

Digital connectivity in Scotland inquiry

Closed Opened 5 Dec 2017 Closed 5 Dec 2017

Scottish Affairs Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
This inquiry seeks to investigate: What level and standard of mobile and broadband coverage does Scotland need to achieve to maximise the economic and social benefits of greater connectivity? To what extent do current plans for the rollout of broadband and mobile coverage in Scotland meet these needs? What are the barriers (economic, technical, regulatory, other) to delivering superfast broadband and improved mobile coverage in Scotland? What steps could be taken overcome these challenges? Is the level of funding for broadband and mobile phone coverage in Scotland sufficient given the geographic and demographic challenges Scotland faces? How well do the different stakeholders (UK Government, the Scottish Government, service providers) work together? Are there ways these relationships could be improved? What technology options are available to increase connectivity in rural, and other hard to reach, areas of Scotland? What support is needed to develop and deliver these solutions? The Committee are particularly keen to hear from members of underrepresented groups. If you would like to submit written evidence then please get in touch with the Committee using scotaffcom@parliament.uk or call 020 7219 8204.

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 5 December 2017.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently 5th Report - Digital Connectivity in Scotland on 23 July 2018.

The government's response

Published 12 October 2018.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government accepts the recommendation on closer UK and Scottish Government working on broadband, but does not accept the recommendation to review the Universal Service Obligation (USO) specification within six months.

  • On the last 5%, it says it is "already taking action", with Phase 3 of the superfast programme seeking to address "as much of the remaining 5%" as possible; further funding "of some kind" will be required for an 'outside in' approach, with longer-term options to be determined in the forthcoming Spending Review.
  • It does not accept the recommendation to review the USO specification within six months, saying a decision on when to review it "will be taken in the light of market developments, technological changes and evolving consumer needs".
  • On a joint USO working group, it agrees regular interaction between DCMS and the Scottish Government is necessary but says a group "is not necessary" because this interaction "already happens on a regular basis".
  • On regulatory barriers, it states the Barrier Busting Task Force "will work with colleagues in Scotland" to create a league table of local authorities and national toolkits for Street Works and Access Agreements.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Reports

All reports

Evidence

  • 6 oral evidence sessionsLatest 1 May 2018
All evidence

Recent activity

Reports

1 report

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions

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Date Session and witnesses Source
1 May 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
24 Apr 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
17 Apr 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
6 Mar 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
5 Feb 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗
23 Jan 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗