‘If rural areas are without mobile signal, and no longer have copper landlines, how are they to receive important emergency information let alone call for assistance?’
In the House of Commons today (Tuesday 10 December), Plaid Cymru MPs have called for an urgent review of resilience measures amid continued disruption to electricity and communications across rural Wales.
During an Urgent Question session granted to Plaid Cymru, Ceredigion Preseli MP, Ben Lake, expressed deep concern about the prolonged power outages, which have left residents without heating, water, or reliable means of communication.
He thanked engineers to restore power to people and businesses, and thanked emergency services and local authorities for clearing roads and provide support to households.
Mr Lake emphasised that the storm had “brought into very sharp relief just how dependent other key utilities are on electricity: from heating and water supply to mobile phone networks”, and noted that in rural areas, the loss of copper landlines in the recent digital switchover had made it more difficult for rural areas to communicate during extreme weather events.
Ben Lake MP said:
“This storm left hundreds of thousands of homes without power and disrupted critical infrastructure. We are all grateful to the engineers who have worked tirelessly to restore power to over 1.7 million people under very challenging conditions, and I would also like to pay tribute to the emergency services and local authorities who have worked very hard to clear roads and provide support to households where possible.
“However, I am deeply concerned about the thousands of people still without electricity. This storm has brought into very sharp relief just how dependent other key utilities are on electricity: from heating and water supply to mobile phone networks. The latter concern is compounded in rural areas by the fact that many have lost their copper landlines in the recent digital switchover, and a system that is dependent on mains power supply.”
Ben Lake added:
“The increasing frequency of extreme weather events such as Storm Darragh due to climate change underscores the urgent need for robust civil protection measures, encompassing both our immediate response but also long-term resilience planning.
“Our experiences with Storm Darragh highlight the urgency with which we should review the adequacy of current arrangements: for example, if rural areas are without mobile signal, and no longer have copper landlines, how are they to receive important emergency information let alone call for assistance?
“Would the Minister therefore commit to reviewing arrangements in light of this Storm, including whether the Priority Services Register is adequate to address the needs of vulnerable residents during widespread power outages, and ensure that key utilities are equipped to mitigate the impacts of future extreme weather events?”
During the session, Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP, Liz Saville Roberts asked:
“Electricity supplies have yet to be restored in some Gwynedd communities more than 72 hours after the red weather warning
“Switching from copper to digital technology means that all landlines will need electricity to work in future. So do mobile masts.
“Will she speak to her colleagues in DCMS and commit to a government assessment of the resilience of mobile and landline communication in Wales, and also the adequacy of support given to elderly and vulnerable people by BT/EE during the switchover process?”
Caerfyrddin MP, Ann Davies asked:
“Firstly, let me thank the emergency services, the local authority, and engineers for working tirelessly to help residents without power in Caerfyrddin. Can I give a shoutout to the farmers who helped clear the roads with their chainsaws as well.
“But with many areas in their fourth day without electricity – some without water and connectivity - it’s clear we need additional help. The 105 line is overwhelmed.
“What advice does the Minister have for rural communities, such as Trelech and Brechfa, in desperate need for generators in places like village halls to provide hot water, hot meals, and a place to charge mobile phones? Can we do something about this?”
Ynys Môn MP, Llinos Medi, asked:
“Storm damage in Holyhead has led to severe disruption to the second busiest roll-on-roll-off port in the UK, with ferry services to Ireland cancelled.
“This weekend also saw the closure of the Britannia Bridge to all vehicles. The vulnerability of the island’s connections to the mainland has been a concern for several years – with access to our main hospital at risk.
“What assurances can the minister give me that island communities like my constituency of Ynys Mon are safeguarded in future with extreme weather?”