Contributions
359 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUndersea CablesI thank the noble Lord for the question. It is quite a long way from my brief in DSIT. If I may, I shall try to get somebody to answer it for him.03 Dec 2024HANSARDUndersea CablesI thank the noble Lord for a very important question. As I said, there are some 64 cable systems and 116 cables. We have a lot of redundancy in the system. Despite getting 10 to…03 Dec 2024HANSARDUndersea CablesThe cable system is regularly reviewed. As I said, 10 to 20 cable breaks occur per year, largely as a result of fishing, anchor pullage and undersea landslips. DSIT, the MoD and…03 Dec 2024HANSARDUndersea CablesI thank my noble friend for that question. There are 64 cable systems that leave the UK, with 116 cables. About 200 cables break every year around the world, and 10 to 20 of those…03 Dec 2024HANSARDUndersea CablesWe are working closely with international partners following the breakage of two subsea telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea a fortnight ago. It is important that we let…03 Dec 2024HANSARDUndersea CablesThe detection of breaks is done from land, but the ability to repair them is through an agreement with the commercial companies, which pay into a fund that allows a ship to be on…03 Dec 2024HANSARDUndersea CablesThe cables provide the connections that we need for all purposes across telecommunications.03 Dec 2024HANSARDUndersea CablesThere are two vessels. The “Sovereign” is the repair vessel I referred to, which the cable companies pay for and is on standby 24/7 to repair the cables. “Proteus” has a different…03 Dec 2024HANSARDUndersea CablesAt the moment, the answer is neither, because an investigation is being undertaken by Lithuanian, Swedish, Finnish and German ministries to try to understand exactly what went on.…03 Dec 2024HANSARDLarge Language Models and Generative AI (Communications and Digital Committee Report)We have heard really wonderful insights and thoughtful contributions from across your Lordships’ House this afternoon and I am really grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Stowell,…21 Nov 2024HANSARDSatellites: Adverse Effects on AstronomyI thank my noble friend for the question. There is a 10% increase, year on year, in light pollution from land, and there is a substantial increase in the problem of radio and…20 Nov 2024HANSARDSatellites: Adverse Effects on AstronomyThere is a series of international collaborations in place. We are a member of the European Space Agency. A large proportion of the £1.9 billion of the UK Space Agency money goes…20 Nov 2024HANSARDSatellites: Adverse Effects on AstronomyThis is a critical question. The Royal Institute of Navigation has recently—in fact, today—launched a paper on how to prepare for this. It is something that all critical national…20 Nov 2024HANSARDSatellites: Adverse Effects on AstronomyMy Lords, the question about the number of things circulating in space and the implications of that is very important indeed. The number of satellites projected to be launched by…20 Nov 2024HANSARDSatellites: Adverse Effects on AstronomyThe noble Lord makes an extremely important point about the size of satellites, which is one of the problems with the interference from both radio and optical imaging. The smaller…20 Nov 2024HANSARDSatellites: Adverse Effects on AstronomyThe cost of launch has come down by something like 95%. The UK remains committed to getting a launch and remains committed to the space strategy as laid out.20 Nov 2024HANSARDSatellites: Adverse Effects on AstronomyLaunch has decreased in cost dramatically and so have satellites. A large part of the reduction in satellite cost has been the advent of small satellites. Surrey Satellite…20 Nov 2024HANSARDSatellites: Adverse Effects on AstronomyThe next UK launches are planned from Scotland, and several operators, including Orbex, Skyrora, and RFA are targeting orbital launches in 2025-26. The launch date depends on a…20 Nov 2024HANSARDSatellites: Adverse Effects on AstronomyThe Government recognise the importance of mitigating the adverse effects of satellites on astronomy. At this year’s United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space,…20 Nov 2024HANSARDScience and Technology: EconomyMy Lords, I am sure noble Lords will agree that we have heard many thoughtful and insightful comments from all sides of this House. Like everyone else, I thank my noble friend…31 Oct 2024