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Source · National Audit Office

Improving Broadband

This report considers what the Superfast Broadband Programme has delivered and the lessons for government’s roll-out of nationwide gigabit broadband.

Published: 16 Oct 2020 Recommendations: 12 Type: Value for Money NAO confirmed: 12 Department: Department for Culture, Media & Sport
Dept: Department for Culture, Media & Sport Topics: Digital infrastructureDigital, data and technology nao.org.uk →

Recommendations

12 items
11 accepted 1 partially accepted 12 implemented

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Source location: Page 13, paragraph 24, point a

The Department should, in respect of both the Superfast and Future Programmes:
a) work with suppliers and Ofcom to address customer issues with broadband and encourage take-up, to help realise the benefits from widespread broadband envisaged in its Superfast Programme’s business case and to ensure the Future Programme also achieves the benefits of gigabit-capable technology;

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 12/2022 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 2

Addressee: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Source location: Page 13, paragraph 24, point b

b) set out how it will ensure better outcomes for consumers, including any relevant learning from similar programmes, so that they have both choice and the ability to switch providers; and

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 06/2021 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 3

Addressee: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Source location: Page 13, paragraph 24, point c

c) set out how it intends to measure the benefits of its investment, including setting programme-specific objectives as clear measures of success for its Future Programme.

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 05/2022 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 4

Addressee: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Source location: Page 13, paragraph 24, point d, first bullet point

In respect of the Future Programme, it should:
d) set out how it intends to improve its data, including how it will:
• secure the required quality of data for identifying which areas and premises it intends to subsidise;

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 06/2021 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 5

Addressee: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Source location: Page 13, paragraph 24, point d, second bullet point

• replicate local body knowledge and systems; and

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 12/2021 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 6

Addressee: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Source location: Page 13, paragraph 24, point d, third bullet point

• encourage suppliers to set out their plans;

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 06/2021 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 7

Addressee: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Source location: Page 13, paragraph 24, point e

e) set out how it will retain local body expertise in a centralised procurement model, including how it will mitigate the risk of financial pressures on local government leading to broadband teams being disbanded;

Response position: Partially accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 12/2021 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 8

Addressee: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Source location: Page 14, paragraph 24, point f, first bullet point

f) present a detailed plan and schedule, reflecting on learning from the recent pandemic to pinpoint gaps in current broadband provision, identifying:
• how it will meet the proposed timeline together with additional costs and benefits of accelerating the programme;

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 05/2022 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 9

Addressee: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Source location: Page 14, paragraph 24, point f, second bullet point

• the key risks to delivery, costs and outcomes and its proposed mitigation approaches;

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 06/2021 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 10

Addressee: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Source location: Page 14, paragraph 24, point f, third bullet point

• the extent to which it intends to follow an “outside-in” approach;

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 12/2021 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 11

Addressee: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Source location: Page 14, paragraph 24, point f, fourth bullet point

• those local areas which will still not be covered by the final 20% of the Future Programme and any mitigations to ensure that these areas are not left behind; and

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · Q1 2023-24 · Confirmed by NAO

Recommendation 12

Addressee: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Source location: Page 14, paragraph 24, point f, fifth bullet point

• how and when it intends to review and update these plans to ensure transparency about what it considers to be deliverable and by when.

Response position: Accepted

Delivery: Implemented · 03/2021 · Confirmed by NAO

Public Accounts Committee follow-up

1 report

The Public Accounts Committee examined this NAO report and published its own recommendations. The government responds to PAC recommendations via Treasury Minutes.