Details relating to the rollout of 5G in Scotland: FOI release

Information requested

 

You requested details relating to the rollout of 5G in Scotland.

 

Response

 

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested.  The reasons why we don’t have the information are explained in the responses to your questions in the Annex to this letter.

 

Annex A – response to Questions 1-4

 

1. Who in which department of the Scottish Government agreed to the piloting and potential rollout of 5G technology in Scotland?

Telecommunications policy is reserved to the UK Government and regulated by Ofcom, the national regulator. The Scottish Government has no locus in matters pertaining to the granting of permissions relating to 5G piloting or rollout in Scotland.

In Programme for Government 2018-19, we have committed to creating a 5G Strategy for Scotland. This will set out the actions needed to realise the vast potential growth that 5G offers. Our 5G strategy will integrate with work to provide Wi-Fi in towns and increasing access and use of the Internet of Things across Scotland.  Please see this link to the Programme for Government 2018-19 document: https://www.gov.scot/programme-for-government/. We will send you a link to the 5G Strategy when this is available.

 

2. When was this and how was it done? 

N/A

 

3. What mechanisms were employed to obtain consent from the people of Scotland to accept 5G and the high levels of millimeter radiation it brings? 

As a reserved matter, the Scottish Government is not aware of any requirements at a UK national level for commercial operators to seek consents from the general population in relation to their rollout of 5G.

The Scottish Government, along with other UK administrations receives evidence based advice on the health impacts of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from Public Health England (PHE). They have the expertise to assess the scientific literature available on this topic, and keep it under review.

 

4. When was this and how was it done?

N/A

 

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.