Question follow-through · 83837

Broadband: Rural Areas

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help improve broadband (a) speed and (b) quality in underserved areas; and how his Department plans to (i) monitor and (ii) report on progress.

answeredDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology

About this written question

A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.

Answering body
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Tabled
21 Oct 2025
Target answer date
23 Oct 2025
Answer
29 Oct 2025 · 8 calendar days after tabling

Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.

Recorded timeline

  1. 21 Oct 2025

    Question tabled

    To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help improve broadband (a) speed and (b) quality in underserved areas; and how his Department plans to (i) monitor and (ii) report on progress.

  2. 23 Oct 2025

    Target answer date

    Date supplied by the official written-questions record.

  3. 29 Oct 2025

    Answer published

    According to the independent website, Thinkbroadband.com, 89% of premises in the UK have access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection. Our goal is for nationwide gigabit coverage by 2032, ensuring at least 99% of UK premises can access a gigabit-capab...

Open official record

Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.

Later records

Possible follow-up questions

Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.

Strong linkSame MP, department and exact heading

Broadband: Rural Areas

3 Nov 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 83837 on Broadband: Rural Areas, what progress she has made on Project Gigabit in the West Midlands; how many premises in Aldridge–

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Electronic Government

28 Jan 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to HCWS1249, what steps are being taken to prevent digital exclusion arising from the expansion of the GOV.UK app, GOV.UK Wallet and GOV.UK One Login; how access to offli

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Government Departments: Artificial Intelligence

28 Jan 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to HCWS1249, how many AI-enabled tools are currently in live use across central government; which policy areas are included in the AI Exemplars Programme; what level of h

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Government Departments: Digital Technology

28 Jan 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to HCWS1249, what estimate he has made of the number of legacy digital systems in use across government; what timetable exists for decommissioning the highest-risk system

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Electronic Government: Cost Effectiveness

28 Jan 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to HCWS1249, what productivity gains and cash-releasing savings are expected from the digital government roadmap by 2030; how those savings will be measured; and how bene

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Electronic Government

28 Jan 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to HCWS1249, whether he will publish annual progress reports against the roadmap, department-level performance metrics for digital services, and information on major digi

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Mobile Phones: Fraud

16 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Government response to the consultation on proposals to update the Telecommunications Security Code of Practice 2022, what estimate she has made of the number of S

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Social Media: Children

16 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, in what way new restrictions on children’s access to social media or online services will interact with the child safety duties in the Online Safety Act 2023; what steps she will take t

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Local Government: Cybersecurity

16 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the publication entitled "The changing cyber threat profile and potential impact on local councils", what estimate she has made of the number of local authorities whic

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Local Government: Cybersecurity

16 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what estimate he has made of the financial cost to local authorities of implementing the recommendations contained within her Department's research on cyber threats.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Social Media: Children

17 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether proposals on children’s online safety will apply to social media platforms, video-sharing platforms, gaming platforms, livestreaming services, encrypted messaging services and A

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Internet: Children

17 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether addictive design features, including infinite scrolling, autoplay, algorithmic recommendation systems, streaks, livestreaming and stranger-pairing functionality will be treated