Hansard

I begin by thanking those colleagues who supported my motion on the removal of phone boxes across Scotland. I thank Brian Whittle and Jamie Greene for being present in the chamber today to discuss an issue that affects a great number of people in a variety of tangible ways. I also thank Mark Dames and Mark Johnson of BT for taking the time to discuss the issue a fortnight ago, before the debate had even been scheduled.

When I was first informed of BT’s decision to remove 947 payphone boxes across Scotland, including 24 boxes in North Ayrshire, I was immediately concerned about the impact that it would have on my constituents. Although significant efforts have been made to improve mobile infrastructure across the United Kingdom, many areas in Scotland still receive only a partial mobile phone signal that is both unreliable and inconsistent. Not only are those so-called “not spots” frustrating for someone who is trying to send a text or make a call; they can prove dangerous in an emergency.

That concern is particularly relevant to those who live on Scotland’s islands, such as Arran and Cumbrae in my constituency, where mobile coverage can be extremely poor. That increases isolation for island residents, as well as affecting the many tourists who visit our islands each year and who are consistently surprised by just how sporadic signal provision can be. As a result of those concerns, I considered it a priority to meet BT to discuss the reasoning behind the decision and to understand fully the impact that it would have on the people of Scotland. I am grateful to BT for engaging with MSPs on the issue, and I would like to share some of what we discussed today.

First, it is undeniable that our telephone usage and our relationship with technology have been dramatically transformed in recent times. Ninety-three per cent of all adults now own a mobile phone and, as a result, payphone usage across the UK has declined by 90 per cent over the past decade. In fact, not one call was made from more than 700 BT kiosks over the past year, which demonstrates just how little used they are in some locations. I am not surprised that, when we have access to devices that allow us to make calls, send texts, check emails, browse the internet and even play games, call boxes are no longer used in the way they once were.

In the light of that, our focus now should perhaps be on increasing mobile coverage and reliability, in particular in remote and rural areas that currently do not enjoy the same connectivity as the rest of Scotland. I hope to see more initiatives such as the pilot scheme that was launched in 2016 by the then Minister for Transport and Islands, Derek Mackay, which offered non-domestic rates relief on new mobile masts in two locations on Arran and one in the Cairngorm national park to encourage the provision of mobile services and further investment in those areas. Such projects would mean that phone boxes would no longer be a necessity, and those living in Scotland’s rural areas would be able to enjoy the full range of mobile services.

It is worth noting that, prior to the decision, BT entered into consultation with local authorities across Scotland, with 1,500 payphones originally earmarked for removal by 2020. Following the consultation, which allowed communities to voice their concerns over the removal of essential payphones, BT agreed to drop the number to 947. That means that we will see the removal of some 433 boxes across Scotland, with a further 111 being taken over by the adopt a kiosk initiative, rather than the loss of a third of all current payphones as was initially proposed. That demonstrates BT’s willingness to engage with those who rely on payphone services most and to protect services where they are deemed vital.

I am pleased to highlight that, after reviewing the consultation responses, the decision was made not to remove any payphones on any Scottish island. That will guarantee the safety of island residents and visitors, as those phone boxes can act as a lifeline in an emergency.

Payphones have also been protected where the consultation identified a social need for the box, such as accident black spots, suicide hot spots and coastal sites, where connectivity might prove to be life saving.

Other boxes were protected when meeting all the following criteria: being the only payphone within 800m; being used to make at least 12 calls within a 12-month period; and being located where the local population is not fewer than 500 households within 1km of the payphone.

I want to draw attention to BT’s adopt a kiosk scheme, which was introduced in 2008 and offers local authorities, charities and local communities the opportunity to adopt a local phone box for just £1 and transform it into an asset for the community as an alternative to removal.

Following the consultation, 111 phone boxes are currently being considered for adoption. There is an exciting and eclectic mix of transformed kiosks already in use across Scotland, and there are some 3,000 such kiosks across the UK. Some boxes are fitted with life-saving defibrillators, tiny libraries or miniature art galleries that have been maintained by local communities in Scotland and, in England, even mini coffee shops and meditation spaces have been created. There is a wealth of opportunity and inspiration for transforming poorly maintained and unused phone boxes into a unique and creative community solution.

That is exactly the kind of community empowerment—albeit on a modest scale—that I would like to see more of in my constituency of Cunninghame North, and I encourage everyone watching this debate to consider whether a phone box in their locale could become something eye catching, essential or just a bit of good fun. What is interesting is that, of those 111 boxes, 28 are in Angus, 18 are in Fife but none are in 18 local authorities, including North Ayrshire Council, in my constituency. That is something that I will pursue personally.

When we are fighting to retain call boxes, we should remember that BT currently loses £20 million a year by maintaining them. Further, although it is important that they be retained in rural areas, some urban areas—I emphasise that it is only some—are not so keen to retain them, because of the concerns that those call boxes cause in some communities, and BT is very much aware of that.

In closing, I call on everyone present today to remember that connectivity is not just a matter of economic necessity but a vital part of guaranteeing the safety of our constituents. By retaining phone boxes where they are essential, as well as looking for creative and effective solutions to signal coverage issues in rural and remote areas, we can ensure that everyone has access to telephone services wherever and whenever they need them most.