· FOI · released
Ministerial correspondence regarding Broadband Universal Service Obligation: FOI release
Information requested
Details of 1) correspondence and 2) meetings between the Scottish Government and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in the last 12 months regarding the Universal Service Obligation (USO).
1) include a copy of the correspondence.
2) include the date of the meeting and the people present.
Response
I enclose a copy of all the information, in the format you requested.
In response to the first part of your request, please find attached copies of the correspondence between the Scottish Government (SG) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS).
In response to the second part of your request, I can confirm that there have been 3 meetings, the details of which are below:
18 August 2017: Call between SG and DCMS officials. Attended: Jeanne Grey, Holly Creek (DCMS), Alan Johnston, Robbie McGhee (SG).
13 June 2017: Meeting in London between SG and DCMS officials. Attended: Jeanne Grey, Holly Creek (DCMS), Robbie McGhee, Michelle Colquhoun, Clive Downing (SG).
2 May 2017: Call between SG and DCMS officials. Attended: Jeanne Grey, Holly Creek (DCMS), Alan Johnston, Robbie McGhee (SG).
The Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity has written regularly since May 2016 to his UK counterparts seeking opportunities to meet and discuss a range of matters relating to digital connectivity, including the USO. To date, UK Ministers have been unavailable to meet.