Contributions
920 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDShort-term Lets: National RegistrationI thank the hon. Member for his question, but unfortunately, on the point of substance, somebody coughed and I slightly missed the key point—I apologise. I think he asked about…22 Feb 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is a stalwart of the radio scene. I would like to pay tribute to the 40-year career of Steve Wright, another stalwart of BBC radio. I have spoken to the director…22 Feb 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am aware that the BBC is looking at changing its programme mix in relation to news in Scotland. My understanding was that those changes were cost-neutral, but I hear what the…22 Feb 2024HANSARDShort-term Lets: National RegistrationI thank the hon. Member for raising the issues in Cambridge city, and I appreciate that in a city such as that that there will have been significant problems in this area. He may…22 Feb 2024HANSARDShort-term Lets: National RegistrationMy hon. Friend is a real champion for her local Devon tourist economy, and she is aware of the challenges that tourism can present in local communities, especially when it comes…22 Feb 2024HANSARDShort-term Lets: National RegistrationThe Government have delivered the legal framework for a registration scheme for short-term lets in England under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 and have consulted on…22 Feb 2024HANSARDRural ConnectivityThe hon. Gentleman is right to highlight the fantastic connectivity in Northern Ireland. In fact, I think it has some of the very best connectivity in the entire country. I will…21 Feb 2024HANSARDRural ConnectivityMy hon. Friend highlights the challenge I have had in answering this question. The mobile connectivity figures I have for her constituency are extremely high. This highlights the…21 Feb 2024HANSARDRural ConnectivityI thank my hon. Friend for raising the experience of Mr Burrows, who sounds like a very experienced officer. I would like to hear a bit more detail, because it sounds like the…21 Feb 2024HANSARDRural ConnectivityThese issues have been highlighted many times by Conservative Members from Devon. We thought we had worked through some of those challenges. The clawback challenge that the hon.…21 Feb 2024HANSARDRural ConnectivityMy hon. Friend’s constituency has very low gigabit connectivity, partly because its geography makes connections very expensive. That is why we launched one of our very first…21 Feb 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am sorry to hear of the problems that my hon. Friend’s constituents experienced. Telecommunications companies are under certain obligations to Ofcom to keep networks up and…21 Feb 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the hon. Lady for raising the issue of total and partial notspots. Our amazing shared rural network programme has £500 million from industry and £500 million from…21 Feb 2024HANSARDRural ConnectivityI thank my hon. Friend for raising this point, and I agree that we want to build underground where possible. It is important that she is advocating on behalf of her constituents,…21 Feb 2024HANSARDRural ConnectivityI know that the hon. Gentleman loves to stick the boot in, but he has chosen the wrong subject here. In 2019, there was 6% gigabit coverage, whereas the figure now is 80%. This is…21 Feb 2024HANSARDRural ConnectivityWe have made huge progress in connecting the countryside. In 2019 only 6% of premises had gigabit-capable broadband; now it is 80%, and the UK is building gigabit networks faster…21 Feb 2024HANSARDRural ConnectivityI thank the hon. Gentleman, but his businesses no longer want superfast. They want gigabit speeds and, thankfully, Northern Ireland has tremendous gigabit speeds. If there are any…21 Feb 2024HANSARDShort-term Lets: Registration SchemeFollowing consultation on a registration scheme for short-term lets in England, today the Government set out further details on how the scheme will operate. Short-term lets are an…19 Feb 2024HANSARDConsultation on Renewal of Local TV Licences: Government ResponseHis Majesty’s Government have today published a response to the consultation on the arrangements for the renewal of the local TV multiplex licence, and the renewal or relicensing…02 Feb 2024HANSARDMedia BillWe have concerns about my right hon. Friend’s amendments as a package. One issue is about delay, but another is about some of the smaller publishers that do not wish to be part of…30 Jan 2024