Question
We all know that at points of emergency, such as power outages and so many other things, mobile networks are incredibly important. The villages of Huntington and Hatherton have virtually no signal at all. With the withdrawal of the shared rural network, which provides funding for rural communities to get better mobile services, what should such villages do to ensure that they have access to the mobile networks that are so important at critical times?
Answer
The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that mobile networks are very important. I saw for myself, in the aftermath of Storm Goretti in Cornwall, the impact of losing the mobile and digital signal, even for a relatively short period. A lot of work is taking place in Government, led by the DCMS, to ensure that there is that resilience and that, in the aftermath of any extreme weather event, there is urgent and ongoing work to restore capabilities that have been lost. He makes an important point, and I know that, again, local resilience forums will be looking at the particular challenges in their areas and working with utility providers to ensure that, where coverage is lost, it can be returned as quickly as possible.
Verdict: AMBER (32/100)
The reply points to general government resilience work, the restoration of lost mobile capabilities, and local resilience forums working with providers to restore coverage. It does not give the villages any advice on how to keep access during critical times, does not mention the Shared Rural Network withdrawal, and offers no concrete measures for Huntington or Hatherton. Because the answer is largely general and hedged, the person who asked would likely need to submit a follow-up for specifics.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What advice does the Government have for the villages of Huntington and Hatherton on how they can ensure access to mobile networks at critical times, following the withdrawal of the Shared Rural Network? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply points to DCMS-led resilience work, urgent restoration of lost capabilities, and local resilience forums working with utility providers to restore coverage, which are related mechanisms. However, it never gives the villages any advice on how to ensure access at critical times, never mentions the Shared Rural Network withdrawal, and offers no concrete measures specific to Huntington or Hatherton. |