Rural Related Politics - An RSN weekly review

House of Commons

Tuesday 26 November 2024
Westminster Hall Debate, Government support for local councils to tackle fly-tipping.
Westminster Hall Debate, The rollout of Project Gigabit in rural areas.

Monday 2 December 2024
Oral Questions, Housing Communities and Local Government.

House of Lords

Tuesday 26 November 2024
Oral Questions, Safeguarding the overall quantity of agricultural land for food production in light of recent proposals for solar farms.

Monday 2 December 2024
Oral Questions, Consultation for the NHS 10 Year Plan and ensuring it reaches all communities

The RSN team will be reviewing transcripts of each of the above and sharing with readers any  relevant comments.

Insights from Last Week

In a House of Commons debate, the issue of inadequate digital connectivity in rural areas was brought into focus. Concerns were raised about the significant challenges faced by residents in various rural villages across the UK, particularly with poor 4G and 5G mobile reception that impacts access to essential services, including emergency services.

The discussion highlighted ongoing governmental efforts such as Project Gigabit and the shared rural network, aimed at improving digital infrastructure by filling gaps not covered commercially. However, MPs expressed the need for a comprehensive digital inclusion strategy, pointing out discrepancies between reported coverage statistics and the actual connectivity experiences of constituents.

This debate stressed the urgency of enhancing digital services in rural areas to ensure equitable digital access and support economic growth across all regions.

For further details on this important issue, you can access the full transcript here.