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1283776

registered interest
date	04/02/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Dormant Assets Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps he is taking to allocate to good causes the dormant assets identified by the Dormant Assets Scheme.
tabling member constituency	Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
tabling member printed	David Simmonds
uin	911829
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2021 answer text <p>The Dormant Assets Scheme enables money sitting in forgotten accounts to be unlocked for social or environmental purposes.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>UK-wide, the Scheme has so far released over £745m, including £150m for coronavirus recovery last year.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Following the government’s consultation response, and years of close industry engagement, I’m delighted to say that the Scheme is now set to be expanded, potentially unlocking over £800m for good causes over the coming years.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 04/02/2021 15:41:00 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4872 label Biography information for David Simmonds

1283777

registered interest
date	04/02/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Civil Society: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What plans he has to provide additional financial support to the civil and voluntary sector during the national covid-19 lockdown announced in January 2021.
tabling member constituency	Blaydon
tabling member printed	Liz Twist
uin	911832
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2021 answer text <p>The £750 million sector funding package offered unprecedented support to allow charities and social enterprises to continue their vital work and support our national response to the pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Government continues to make a package of support available across the economy to enable organisations to get through the months ahead. This includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which continues to be a lifeline to a multitude of organisations.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 04/02/2021 15:41:33 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4618 label Biography information for Liz Twist

1282426

registered interest
date	01/02/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how each regulatory mechanism governing consumer-compensation schemes with respect to broadband service providers is monitored to ensure it is (a) accessible to and (b) practically functional for individual consumers.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	146980
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2021 answer text <p>To help protect telecoms consumers, the Government strengthened Ofcom’s powers through the Digital Economy Act 2017. As a result, in April 2019, Ofcom introduced a voluntary <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/costs-and-billing/automatic-compensation-need-know" target="_blank">automatic compensation</a> scheme for customers of broadband and landline services for when things go wrong, such as missed engineer appointments, delayed start of a service or delayed repairs. BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Virgin Media, Zen Internet, Utility Warehouse and Hyperoptic have all signed up to the scheme. The scheme is designed to help ensure customers receive appropriate redress when things go wrong and, over time, incentivise companies to improve their service.</p><p>Since its launch, Ofcom has been monitoring the scheme through regular engagement with the signatory companies, Openreach and with telecoms alternative dispute resolution providers. Under the voluntary agreement, signatories are also required to provide information to Ofcom, such as volumes of issues and the amounts of compensation paid. Following a <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/201540/auto-comp-review-aug-2020.pdf" target="_blank">review</a> of the scheme in August 2020, Ofcom concluded that the scheme was launched successfully, that it covered around 80% of the broadband market, and that it had increased compensation payments to consumers where repairs or installations had been delayed.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 04/02/2021 15:22:35 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1282427

registered interest
date	01/02/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that customers who have been identified as being of vulnerable or priority status under coronavirus guidance, and therefore in need of broadband services as critical infrastructure, are able to ensure prompt repair and resumption of their broadband services where those are suspended.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	146981
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2021 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of digital connectivity, particularly during this difficult period. For repairs, broadband providers are able to send new equipment to their consumers via postal delivery or using click and collect services, and telecoms engineers are able to visit residential properties to instal or fix broadband connections under the current Covid-19 guidelines.</p><p>More broadly, Ofcom has rules in place, known as general conditions, which all providers must follow, that mandate communication providers to have procedures and policies in place to identify and support vulnerable consumers. Under these industry rules, providers must provide a priority fault repair service for disabled consumers of landline, broadband and mobile services.</p><p>Ofcom has also recently published a <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0034/198763/treating-vulnerable-customer-fairly-guide.pdf" target="_blank">vulnerability guide</a> for providers, setting out their expectations and good practice on how vulnerable telecoms consumers should be supported. This includes steps providers can take to identify vulnerable consumers, and an expectation that all providers implement specialist teams in order to provide extra support for vulnerable consumers.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 04/02/2021 15:21:14 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1282641

registered interest
date	01/02/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment the Government has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on people’s access to broadband; and what steps the Government is taking to (a) ensure the affordability of broadband and (b) reduce the digital divide.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
tabling member printed	Dame Diana Johnson
uin	146811
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2021 answer text <p>In response to Covid-19, the Government and Ofcom agreed a set of commitments with the UK’s major broadband and mobile providers to support vulnerable consumers during the pandemic. Providers committed to working with customers who are finding it difficult to pay their bill as a result of Covid-19 to ensure that they were treated fairly and appropriately supported. They also committed to removing fixed broadband data caps, in addition to providing new and generous landline and mobile offers, such as free or low cost mobile data boosts.</p><p>There are already social tariffs available which offer low cost landline and broadband services for those on certain means-tested benefits. However, in line with Ofcom’s recommendation in their <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/209613/affordability-of-communications-services-initial-findings.pdf" target="_blank">Affordability Report</a> published in December 2020, the Government is encouraging those providers who do not currently offer social tariff packages to do so.</p><p>In addition, Government and Ofcom have taken action to help support switching to more affordable services.</p><p>The Government has promoted the DevicesDotNow campaign, which worked with community organisations to distribute devices to vulnerable adults and help them get online. The aim was to enable elderly and vulnerable people, particularly those to who are shielding, to communicate with the outside world and get access to vital services.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 04/02/2021 15:17:22 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

1282644

registered interest
date	01/02/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband: Prices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring broadband providers to offer affordable tariffs for people on low incomes.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
tabling member printed	Dame Diana Johnson
uin	146812
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2021 answer text <p>The government recognises the importance of digital connectivity, particularly during this difficult period. We have worked closely with industry to develop a number of voluntary commitments. Providers have committed to working with customers who are finding it difficult to pay their bill as a result of COVID-19, to ensure that customers were treated fairly and appropriately supported. This is in addition to lifting all fixed broadband data caps and providing new and generous landline and mobile offers, such as free or low cost mobile data boosts.</p><p>In line with Ofcom’s recommendation in their <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/209613/affordability-of-communications-services-initial-findings.pdf" target="_blank">Affordability Report</a> published in December 2020, the government encourages those providers who do not currently offer social tariff packages to do so and we will monitor the situation closely.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 04/02/2021 15:19:25 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

1281799

registered interest
date	28/01/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband: Prices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that broadband remains affordable to those on (a) universal credit and (b) other low-income benefits.
tabling member constituency	Pontypridd
tabling member printed	Alex Davies-Jones
uin	145182
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2021 answer text <p>The Government has worked closely with industry throughout the pandemic and agreed a set of commitments with the UK’s major broadband and mobile operators to support vulnerable consumers during the Covid-19 period. Providers committed to working with customers who are finding it difficult to pay their bill as a result of Covid-19 to ensure that they are treated fairly and appropriately supported. Providers also committed to removing fixed broadband data caps, in addition to providing new and generous landline and mobile offers, such as free or low cost mobile data boosts.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>There are already social tariffs available which offer low cost landline and broadband services for those on certain means-tested benefits. However, the Government is now encouraging all fixed broadband providers to introduce a social tariff and we will monitor the situation closely.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 03/02/2021 16:46:45 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4849 label Biography information for Alex Davies-Jones

1281834

registered interest
date	28/01/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadband: Prices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that broadband remains affordable to people in receipt of (a) universal credit and (b) other low-income benefits.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Walton
tabling member printed	Dan Carden
uin	145113
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2021 answer text <p>The government has worked closely with industry throughout the pandemic and agreed a set of commitments with the UK’s major broadband and mobile operators to support vulnerable consumers during the Covid-19 period. Providers committed to working with customers who are finding it difficult to pay their bill as a result of Covid-19 to ensure that they are treated fairly and appropriately supported. This is in addition to lifting all fixed broadband data caps and providing new and generous landline and mobile offers, such as free or low cost mobile data boosts.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>There are already social tariffs available which offer low cost landline and broadband services for those on certain means-tested benefits. However, in line with Ofcom’s recommendation in their <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/209613/affordability-of-communications-services-initial-findings.pdf" target="_blank">Affordability Report</a> published in December 2020, the government encourages those providers who do not currently offer social tariff packages to do so and we will monitor the situation closely.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 03/02/2021 16:45:30 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4651 label Biography information for Dan Carden

1281028

registered interest
date	27/01/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Ofcom: Annual Reports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Telecommunications (Security) Bill 2019-21 Committee on 26 January 2021, if the Ofcom Annual Report will include headcount per group and function.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	144678
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2021 answer text <p>Ofcom’s <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/annual-reports-and-plans" target="_blank">Annual Report</a> and accounts are published each July, and includes details of Ofcom’s strategic priorities, financial affairs and resourcing.</p><p>Ofcom follows the disclosure requirements of the Government’s Financial Report Manual and guidelines provided in the Public Expenditure System (PES) Guidance on the preparation of Annual Report and Accounts. As such, Ofcom’s Annual Reports and Accounts show staff resources at the organisational level.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 01/02/2021 15:27:52 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1280571

registered interest
date	26/01/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Cybercrime: Advisory Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many Ofcom employees have the security clearance necessary to advise industry on cyber attacks.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	143712
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>As the communications regulator, Ofcom’s role is to ensure communication providers’ comply with their legal duties on security under the Communications Act 2003. Ofcom is also the competent authority for the digital infrastructure sector under the Network and Information Systems Directive 2020.</p><p>It is the role of the NCSC to advise industry following cyber attacks.</p><p>The NCSC will continue to play this role working closely with Ofcom under the new regime introduced in the Telecoms Security Bill. Ofcom will work with NCSC to ensure that it always has access to the right level of information which can be accessed by those with the appropriate level of security clearance.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 02/02/2021 15:04:49 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Lord Beamish