FACT CHECK

FERRET Fact Service: Who has control over broadband services in Scotland?

Theresa May sparked a row with the SNP over the expansion of broadband in Scotland.

After Tory MP Luke Graham questioned the Scottish Government’s progress in rolling out superfast internet, the Prime Minister claimed that Holyrood should use their devolved powers to improve conditions.

This was disputed by the SNP’s Fergus Ewing, who argued that broadband was reserved to Westminster, but Scotland “has had to intervene”.

May said: “It’s time the Scottish Government got on with using their powers (over broadband) for the benefit of the people in Scotland.”

Who was right? Ferret Fact Service looked at the Prime Minister’s claim and found it to be mostly false.

Making superfast fibre broadband available to everyone has been a priority for the Scottish and UK Government in recent years.

The UK Government define “superfast” as 24 megabits per second (Mbps) or more. Ofcom and the European Union consider 30Mbps to be the benchmark.

There are three phases to the Westminster Government’s plan for superfast broadband roll-out across the UK, with the aim of providing universal coverage.

In his question to May, Graham cited figures from a 2016 Ofcom report that showed Scotland had the lowest proportion of superfast broadband of the UK nations, with 83 per cent of properties covered, compared with 90 per cent across the UK.

However, these figures appear to be out of date now, with independent broadband website Think Broadband showing 91.8 per cent of Scotland now The Record, in conjunction with Ferret Fact Service, is running the rule over the truthfulness of bold claims made by politicians of all hues. In the age of fake news, we will look, impartially, at all the available evidence to find out if politicians are telling the truth, the whole truth – or nothing like the truth. Today we ask: Was Theresa May right when she said the Scottish Government control broadband services? having access to speeds of 24Mbps.

Scotland has unique difficulties in rolling out coverage to rural areas. BT stated it has the “most significant geographic challenges in the UK, and arguably in Europe, when it comes to deploying fibre (broadband)”.

The crux of the debate here is where the power lies over broadband expansion.

The Scotland Act in 1998 set out the Holyrood Parliament’s reserved and devolved powers. The list has been added to since then. Internet and wireless technology, including broadband, has remained under the control of Westminster.

But Holyrood do have power over how UK funding for broadband is used and may provide additional financial support.

Westminster give Scotland responsibility over managing individual broadband initiatives – such as the Highlands and islands roll-out – and allocating funds.

This means Holyrood leads the roll-out in Scotland, but wider funding and regulation of broadband services remains in the hands of the UK Government.

Scotland has no power over the regulation of the broadband market itself, which is controlled by Ofcom.

The Scottish Government set out to provide superfast broadband infrastructure to about 85 per cent of Scotland by the end of 2015 and 95 per cent by next March.

In early 2016, John Swinney said the 85 per cent target had been met six months early.

The 95 per cent target was on track to be met by the end of 2017, but not every household will be able to receive the UK definition of superfast speed (24 Mbps).

The SNP included a pledge in their 2016 Holyrood election manifesto to reach 100 per cent access to superfast broadband.

The Scottish Government have so far broadly succeeded in their targets on introducing fibre broadband.

It is clear that while they may fund broadband projects and lead on the roll-out programme in Scotland, the power to legislate on broadband generally remains at Westminster.