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1581511

registered interest
date	27/01/2023
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, whether she has received representations from (a) industry representatives and (b) consumers on BT Openreach’s proposed increase in the price of wholesale broadband; and what steps Ofcom can take under the Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review to alter the level of the increase.
tabling member constituency	Harrow East
tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
uin	133972
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2023 answer text <p>Price regulation in the telecoms market is a matter for Ofcom as an independent regulator. Openreach’s prices are fixed by Ofcom as part of their five-year Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review (WFTMR) process and have been allowed to increase by CPI in order to reflect the significant additional costs faced when deploying new physical infrastructure. There are no plans to change the WFTMR until 2026. This is in line with industry requests for long-term stable regulation that incentivises competition and investment in the fixed telecoms market in order to increase the coverage of gigabit-capable networks as quickly as possible. This approach has been successful, with over 80 companies investing approximately £35 billion to connect premises across the UK.</p><p>The Government’s Statement of Strategic Priorities for Ofcom, published in 2019, states that we want to see regulation that incentivises network investment and ensures fair and effective competition between new and existing network operators. The Department regularly meets with Ofcom at all levels to discuss progress against its strategic priorities. My officials also regularly engage with representatives across the telecoms sector. On wholesale price increases specifically, the Department has received representations from both industry members and consumer groups.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 06/02/2023 17:02:00 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1581219

registered interest
date	26/01/2023
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, whether she has had recent discussions with Ofcom on the ability of customers to cancel fixed term broadband contracts without penalty when suppliers increase prices during the contract period.
tabling member constituency	Belfast South
tabling member printed	Claire Hanna
uin	133791
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2023 answer text <p>My Department engages regularly with Ofcom on a range of telecoms consumer matters. Ofcom has a statutory duty to monitor ongoing household affordability in the sector, and its General Conditions require telecoms companies to provide clear information about their contracts.</p><p>In June 2022, at a roundtable attended by Ofcom, leaders from broadband and mobile operators agreed a set of industry <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/telecoms-industry-agrees-to-new-cost-of-living-plan-following-government-summit-led-by-digital-secretary-nadine-dorries" target="_blank">commitments </a>to support people through the global rise in the cost of living. These include manageable payment plans and allowing households, who may be mid-contract but struggling with their bills, to switch to cheaper packages without penalty.</p><p>In November, DCMS convened a further ministerial roundtable with the industry, Ofcom, and consumer charities, to discuss further steps to support customers who may be struggling with their monthly bills.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 01/02/2023 10:20:29 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4827 label Biography information for Claire Hanna

1565890

registered interest
date	11/01/2023
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 recent discussions she has had with representatives of phone and broadband providers on potential in-contract price rises in the next financial year.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham East
tabling member printed	Janet Daby
uin	121106
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2023 answer text <p>On November 29 2022, I convened a roundtable with the UK’s major mobile, broadband, and landline providers to discuss the affordability of connectivity services. I urged the industry to remain mindful of the impact any price rises on households, particularly when many are facing additional pressures on their finances due to the global rise in the cost of living.</p><p>Ofcom has a statutory duty to monitor the ongoing affordability of telecommunication services, and officials continue to engage regularly with both Ofcom and operators to explore ways we can support households in staying connected.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 16/01/2023 11:12:54 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4698 label Biography information for Janet Daby

1565636

registered interest
date	10/01/2023
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 recent discussions she has had with Ofcom on the upcoming 11.1 percent price increase of wholesale broadband in April 2023.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff West
tabling member printed	Kevin Brennan
uin	119921
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2023 answer text <p>The regulation of wholesale prices in the fixed telecoms market is a matter for Ofcom, the independent regulator. Through our Statement of Strategic Priorities we have instructed Ofcom to regulate in a way that encourages both competition and investment in telecoms infrastructure. Following this guidance, Ofcom developed its Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review (WFTMR) which allows Openreach prices to increase in line with inflation.</p><p>Thanks to this approach, there is now a thriving market of over 80 providers investing £35bn rolling out gigabit broadband all over the UK. Today, nearly 73% of premises can access gigabit-capable networks, up from just one in ten in November 2019.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 16/01/2023 11:17:10 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	1400 label Biography information for Kevin Brennan

1484744

registered interest
date	29/06/2022
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, how the Government defines a low-income household in the context of financial support for broadband costs.
tabling member constituency	Ogmore
tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
uin	27692
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2022 answer text <p>On Monday 27 June, 2022, leaders of the UK’s major fixed broadband, landline and mobile operators agreed with the government a set of <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/telecoms-industry-agrees-to-new-cost-of-living-plan-following-government-summit-led-by-digital-secretary-nadine-dorries" target="_blank">commitments</a> designed to support households through the global rise in the cost-of-living.</p><p>Social tariffs are available to those claiming Universal Credit, and a number of providers also accept those in receipt of other means-tested benefits. The commitments also offer help to any household struggling with their bills. <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/232522/Affordability-of-Communications-Services.pdf" target="_blank">Ofcom’s Affordability</a> report from February 2022 showed that one in five UK households have an affordability issue with their communication service (landline, broadband, mobile and Pay TV), and we hope that the commitments we reached with industry will help all households who may be struggling with their costs during this difficult time.</p><p>We anticipate a period of transition as staff are trained and processes put in place, but the measures agreed with industry are available now, so people should feel confident in contacting their operator if they require assistance. The Government has also committed to work with providers to assist them raise awareness of social tariffs. To support the sector, the government is also developing eligibility checking software which will allow a faster, more efficient application process. We expect these workstrands to conclude over the summer.</p><p>Social Tariffs are available from BT, Virgin Media O2, Sky, Now Broadband, Vodafone, Hyperoptic, Country Connect, Broadband for the Rural North, G Networks, Air Broadband, and KCOM - the government has determined that social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 27693 27694 28467 question first answered 05/07/2022 15:53:18 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore

1484745

registered interest
date	29/06/2022
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, whether her Department has a fixed time frame for the implementation of the cost of living proposals on tackling rising broadband costs.
tabling member constituency	Ogmore
tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
uin	27693
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2022 answer text <p>On Monday 27 June, 2022, leaders of the UK’s major fixed broadband, landline and mobile operators agreed with the government a set of <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/telecoms-industry-agrees-to-new-cost-of-living-plan-following-government-summit-led-by-digital-secretary-nadine-dorries" target="_blank">commitments</a> designed to support households through the global rise in the cost-of-living.</p><p>Social tariffs are available to those claiming Universal Credit, and a number of providers also accept those in receipt of other means-tested benefits. The commitments also offer help to any household struggling with their bills. <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/232522/Affordability-of-Communications-Services.pdf" target="_blank">Ofcom’s Affordability</a> report from February 2022 showed that one in five UK households have an affordability issue with their communication service (landline, broadband, mobile and Pay TV), and we hope that the commitments we reached with industry will help all households who may be struggling with their costs during this difficult time.</p><p>We anticipate a period of transition as staff are trained and processes put in place, but the measures agreed with industry are available now, so people should feel confident in contacting their operator if they require assistance. The Government has also committed to work with providers to assist them raise awareness of social tariffs. To support the sector, the government is also developing eligibility checking software which will allow a faster, more efficient application process. We expect these workstrands to conclude over the summer.</p><p>Social Tariffs are available from BT, Virgin Media O2, Sky, Now Broadband, Vodafone, Hyperoptic, Country Connect, Broadband for the Rural North, G Networks, Air Broadband, and KCOM - the government has determined that social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 27692 27694 28467 question first answered 05/07/2022 15:53:18 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore

1484748

registered interest
date	29/06/2022
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 estimate she has made of the number of households that will be in receipt of her proposals to tackle the cost of living by providing support for broadband.
tabling member constituency	Ogmore
tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
uin	27694
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2022 answer text <p>On Monday 27 June, 2022, leaders of the UK’s major fixed broadband, landline and mobile operators agreed with the government a set of <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/telecoms-industry-agrees-to-new-cost-of-living-plan-following-government-summit-led-by-digital-secretary-nadine-dorries" target="_blank">commitments</a> designed to support households through the global rise in the cost-of-living.</p><p>Social tariffs are available to those claiming Universal Credit, and a number of providers also accept those in receipt of other means-tested benefits. The commitments also offer help to any household struggling with their bills. <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/232522/Affordability-of-Communications-Services.pdf" target="_blank">Ofcom’s Affordability</a> report from February 2022 showed that one in five UK households have an affordability issue with their communication service (landline, broadband, mobile and Pay TV), and we hope that the commitments we reached with industry will help all households who may be struggling with their costs during this difficult time.</p><p>We anticipate a period of transition as staff are trained and processes put in place, but the measures agreed with industry are available now, so people should feel confident in contacting their operator if they require assistance. The Government has also committed to work with providers to assist them raise awareness of social tariffs. To support the sector, the government is also developing eligibility checking software which will allow a faster, more efficient application process. We expect these workstrands to conclude over the summer.</p><p>Social Tariffs are available from BT, Virgin Media O2, Sky, Now Broadband, Vodafone, Hyperoptic, Country Connect, Broadband for the Rural North, G Networks, Air Broadband, and KCOM - the government has determined that social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 27692 27693 28467 question first answered 05/07/2022 15:53:18 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore

1470228

registered interest
date	14/06/2022
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 estimate she has made of the average cost to households in (a) Coventry North East constituency, (b) Coventry, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England for broadband connectivity in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Coventry North East
tabling member printed	Colleen Fletcher
uin	17952
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2022 answer text <p>We do not hold broadband data on pricing at a regional or local-level. The prices consumers pay depends on a number of factors, including availability and choice of different providers, and how they take-up their services, for instance, whether they take-up additional services in bundled telecoms packages. Broadly, UK data shows that the telecoms market is competitive, with a range of services and deals being delivered to consumers at good value for money. Ofcom’s <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/222331/Pricing-trends-for-communications-services-in-the-UK.pdf" target="_blank">Pricing Trends Report</a> based on 2020 data, which is its latest research on pricing, shows that average monthly spend on fixed services (broadband and landline combined) was £40.87 in 2020, £38.37 in 2019, and £39.92 in 2018.</p><p>The Government has worked with providers to deliver low-cost, social tariffs for those in receipt of Universal Credit and other means-tested benefits. BT, Virgin Media O2, Sky, and a number of others, now offer broadband social tariff to the average cost of broadband. Between them, these products are available in 99% of the UK. Ofcom has a statutory duty to report on the affordability of telecommunication services, and we are working closely with them to monitor the market.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 21/06/2022 10:32:06 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4378 label Biography information for Colleen Fletcher

1387292

registered interest
date	13/12/2021
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 recent discussions he has had with OFCOM on the (a) affordability of current broadband contract prices and (b) the ease of switching between broadband providers.
tabling member constituency	Bosworth
tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
uin	92095
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2021 answer text <p>DCMS continues to work alongside Ofcom to encourage Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to go further to support low-income families.</p><p>Following our discussions with the telecoms sector, affordable social tariffs are now available from BT, Virgin Media, Hyperoptic, Community Fibre and KCOM for £15 per month to those on Universal Credit as well as other means-tested benefits. These ISPs operate in 99% of the UK. We continue to have on-going discussions with Ofcom who have a statutory duty to monitor affordability in the telecommunications sector. We also continue to encourage all operators to introduce affordable tariffs.</p><p>DCMS also continues to work with Ofcom on the issue of switching. Ofcom introduced new <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/225632/statement-quick-easy-reliable-switching.pdf" target="_blank">rules</a> in September 2021 which are designed to make broadband switching easier. Under these rules, consumers only need to contact their new ISP, who will lead the switching process, regardless of the underlying network provider or connection type. These rules will go into effect in April 2023.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 16/12/2021 14:44:04 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans

1355887

registered interest
date	15/09/2021
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 recent discussions she has had with Ofcom on progress towards securing cheaper broadband tariffs for low income households.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	50011
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2021 answer text <p>In the past 6 months, DCMS - working with Ofcom - have convened two Ministerial roundtables with senior representatives of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to discuss affordability and encourage the introduction of fixed broadband social tariffs for low-income households.</p><p>Following our engagement with the sector, a range of broadband social tariff packages are now available in the market to support those on low incomes or who receive specific benefits. BT, for example, recently announced a Home Essentials package to launch which will provide fibre and voice services to households in receipt of Universal Credit and certain other means-tested benefits for £15 per month. Virgin, Hyperoptic and other providers are also offering similar packages to assist on low incomes. Between them, these products are available to 99% of households across the country.</p><p>The government, together with Ofcom, continues to encourage all fixed-line providers to introduce a social tariff offer so as to ensure those on low incomes have affordable access to services and information.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 24/09/2021 08:34:18 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah