Every parliamentary written question tabled by Dave Robertson this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–7 of 7 · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Innovation and Technology, ?what steps she is taking to help ensure that the UK has sovereign AI capacity.
AI is critical to the UK’s economic prosperity, public services and national security. The £500 million Sovereign AI Fund will help promising British AI companies to grow and anchor in the UK. It is complemented by the AI Research Resource and AI Growth Z...
Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the commencing Section 70 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022.
Government remains committed to implementing the remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 as soon as possible. The Department is considering options for commencing section 70 of the Act and will confirm timelines in due course.
Innovation and Technology, what funding her Department plans to provide to the National Connectivity Alliance in each of the next three financial years; and whether her Department has assessed the potential impact of any change in funding levels on the Alliance’s work.
The Government does not provide funding to the National Connectivity Alliance.We endorse the work of the National Connectivity Alliance as an important independent industry body to ensure site providers and operators work effectively together.
Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the 2017 reforms to the Electronic Communications Code on levels of (a) 5G coverage and (b) network performance in comparison to other countries.
Government has no plans to conduct a formal review of the 2017 reforms to the Electronic Communications Code before commencing the remaining sections of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022.The aim of the 2017 reforms was to encourage investment in digital networks and improve coverage and connectivity across the UK. Following the 2017 reforms, government representatives engaged regularly with stakeholders about their impact, resulting in a consultation on further changes to the Code. These were included in the 2022 Act, which received full Parliamentary scrutiny.Our ambition is that all populated areas will have higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030. We are committed to removing barriers to the digital infrastructure, including reviewing where planning rules could be relaxed to support the deployment of 5G.Analysis from the EU Commission showed 5G households' coverage in the UK at the end of 2024 (95%) was on par with India, China and ahead of France (94%) and the EU (94.3%), but behind South Korea (100%), Japan (99.2%), Norway, Iceland and Germany (all 99%) as well as USA (97.0%). Since this assessment, UK 5G coverage outside premises has increased to 96%.
Innovation and Technology, whether her Department plans to commission a review of the 2017 Electronic Communications Code reforms to evaluate its potential impact on the deployment of 5G masts.
Government has no plans to conduct a formal review of the 2017 reforms to the Electronic Communications Code before commencing the remaining sections of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022.The aim of the 2017 reforms was to encourage investment in digital networks and improve coverage and connectivity across the UK. Following the 2017 reforms, government representatives engaged regularly with stakeholders about their impact, resulting in a consultation on further changes to the Code. These were included in the 2022 Act, which received full Parliamentary scrutiny.Our ambition is that all populated areas will have higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030. We are committed to removing barriers to the digital infrastructure, including reviewing where planning rules could be relaxed to support the deployment of 5G.Analysis from the EU Commission showed 5G households' coverage in the UK at the end of 2024 (95%) was on par with India, China and ahead of France (94%) and the EU (94.3%), but behind South Korea (100%), Japan (99.2%), Norway, Iceland and Germany (all 99%) as well as USA (97.0%). Since this assessment, UK 5G coverage outside premises has increased to 96%.
Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to delay implementation of Sections 61-64 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act until the Government’s review of the mobile market is complete.
No, there are no plans to delay implementation. The Government is undertaking its Mobile Market Review to assess the technological and financial developments occurring across the sector and how these impact investment in mobile networks over the long-term. The review will help us understand what more Government can do to support the market to invest in widespread high-quality connectivity.The Government’s work on the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 is separate. The technical consultation on draft regulations to commence Sections 61 – 64 of the Act closed on 2 July 2025. Subject to considering the consultation responses, we intend to finalise sections 61 – 64 of the Act by the end of the year.
Innovation and Technology, what discussions his Department has had with (a) landowners (b) Wireless Infrastructure Providers and (c) Mobile Network Operators on the implementation of sections 61-64 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022.
A technical consultation on draft regulations to commence Sections 61 – 64 of the Act, dealing with certain Renewal agreements, was published on 7 May 2025 and closed on 2 July 2025. The department received submissions from a range of stakeholders in response to the consultation, including landowners, Wireless Infrastructure Providers and Mobile Network Operators.Officials have kept these stakeholders updated on progress to implement outstanding provisions of the PSTI Act, including sections 61 – 64. This has been done through group sessions, which site providers, operators and infrastructure providers have all been invited to attend. Officials have also shared these updates and listened to feedback as part of their routine engagement with stakeholders. This engagement has included regular and ad hoc meetings with specific organisations and representative groups.