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1719100

registered interest
date	17/05/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Broadband: Social Tariffs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Answer of 10 July 2023 to Question 192484 on Broadband: Social Tariffs, if he will make an estimate of the number and proportion of eligible people who were both (a) aware of and (b) took up a mobile phone social tariff in the last six months.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	26854
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2024 answer text <p>Ofcom has a statutory duty to monitor the affordability of telecoms services, and releases regular reports regarding public awareness and take-up of broadband and mobile social tariffs.</p><p> </p><p>In December 2023, as part of its Pricing Trends Report, Ofcom stated that awareness of social tariffs amongst eligible households was 45% (or around 2 million households). The report also estimated 380,000 UK households were taking-up social tariff, this represents around 8.3% of those eligible. Ofcom does not differentiate between mobile or broadband for these purposes.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to work closely with Ofcom and the telecoms industry to explore ways to improve awareness of social tariffs amongst eligible households.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 22/05/2024 09:08:55 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1713719

registered interest
date	24/04/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Broadband: Social Tariffs
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for reviewing the social tariff for broadband subscriptions, given Ofcom’s report of the low update of the current scheme.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
uin	HL4069
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government continues to work closely with Ofcom on the affordability of telecoms services, including social tariffs.</p><p> </p><p>In December, Ofcom’s Pricing Trends report, showed that 380,000 UK households now take up a social tariff, an almost 160% increase from the previous September, but just 8.3% of the total number of eligible households.</p><p> </p><p>The Government accepts that more is needed to ensure that low-income households are aware of social tariffs as well as other support that is available. However, it is also important to recognise that social tariffs may not be suitable for every household on Universal Credit, and commercial bundled packages - offering TV, broadband, landline and mobile services - may represent overall better value for money.</p><p> </p><p>The Government and Ofcom continue to press operators to do more to raise awareness of social tariffs to their customers, with the regulator recently publishing <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/research-and-data/behavioural-insights/low-income-consumers-buy-high-quality-lower-cost-broadband" target="_blank">research</a> into the barriers to communicating offers to eligible households.</p> answering member printed Viscount Camrose question first answered 09/05/2024 11:25:03 answering member 4939 label Biography information for Viscount Camrose
tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

1697249

registered interest
date	19/03/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Broadband: Social Tariffs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2024 to Question 17385 on Broadband: Social Tariffs, what steps she is taking to ensure that access to social tariffs is equitable across (a) regions and (b) nations.
tabling member constituency	East Lothian
tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
uin	19479
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>Social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK and are offered by a range of telecoms providers. National providers, such as BT, Virgin Media, Sky and Vodafone, as well as regional or local ‘alternative network providers’ (often referred to as altnets) such as Community Fibre, Greyshott Gigabit Connect, and Lothian Broadband offer social tariffs. Mobile social tariffs are also available nationwide, using normal mobile networks across the UK. Ofcom has published a full list of social tariffs and the locations they are available on their website.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that the delivery of social tariffs by regional or local altnets means that not all eligible consumers are able to access every social tariff, however provision by internet service providers (ISPs) on Openreach’s national telecoms network means that vast majority households across the UK will have social tariff options from their provider.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to work with operators to encourage them to do all they can to support customers and ensure strong provision of social tariffs across all the UK.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 22/03/2024 09:35:26 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1694113

registered interest
date	06/03/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Broadband: Social Tariffs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2024 to Question 14701 on Broadband: Social Tariffs, whether the data on the number of households that were taking up a social tariff from Ofcom's December 2023 Pricing Trends report is available by (a) nation and (b) region.
tabling member constituency	East Lothian
tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
uin	17385
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2024 answer text <p>Ofcom has a legal duty to monitor the affordability of telecommunications services and regularly publishes data on awareness and take-up of social tariffs on a UK-wide basis.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom’s December 2023 Pricing Trends report does not break down data on the number of households that take up a broadband or mobile social tariff by nation or region.</p><p> </p><p>As social tariffs are commercial products, detailed information on the regional or geographical take-up could be commercially and market sensitive.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 11/03/2024 10:49:30 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1692821

registered interest
date	29/02/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Broadband: Social Tariffs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2024 to Question 14701 on Broadband: Social Tariffs, if she will provide a breakdown of the households on a social tariff by (a) region and (b) nation.
tabling member constituency	East Lothian
tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
uin	16435
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2024 answer text <p>The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology does not hold information regarding the take-up of social tariff by region and nation.</p><p> </p><p>Social tariffs are low-cost, commercial products offered by telecommunications providers on a voluntary basis, as such information regarding the geographical take-up of services would be commercially and market sensitive.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom, the independent regulator of telecoms services, has a legal duty to monitor the affordability of telecommunications services and regularly publishes data on awareness and take-up of social tariffs on a UK-wide basis.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 05/03/2024 14:43:05 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1690070

registered interest
date	19/02/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Broadband: Social Tariffs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that providers of broadband social tariffs apply the same (a) discount levels and (b) eligibility criteria to those tariffs.
tabling member constituency	East Lothian
tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
uin	14701
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>The Government recognises that this is a difficult time for households across the country who are struggling with their bills due to the rise in the cost of living.</p><p> </p><p>Social tariffs are offered on a voluntary basis by 27 telecommunications providers and are available in 99% of the UK for the around 5 million eligible households on Universal Credit as well as other means-tested benefits. The design of broadband and mobile social tariffs, including pricing, speeds, and eligibility, are decided by individual operators, and this has resulted in a good range of offers for people to choose from.</p><p> </p><p>The Government does not currently have plans to intervene in the telecommunications market to prescribe the make-up of social tariffs. We recognise that low-income households need help with their bills now and any legislative proposal will take time to design and deliver and may cause operators to withdraw their existing social offers. In December 2023, Ofcom’s Pricing Trends report showed 380,000 households were taking up a social tariff. This is an increase of almost 160% since their September 2022 report. We continue to work closely with Ofcom to monitor market provision and stand ready to act if necessary.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 27/02/2024 11:20:05 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1674217

registered interest
date	29/11/2023
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Broadband: Social Tariffs
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase their promotion of social tariffs in areas of deprivation in the light of the finding that many older people are unaware of social tariffs, particularly in the broadband sector, in the report A constant struggle: The impact of high household costs on older people facing financial hardship, published by Independent Age in September.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
uin	HL725
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2023 answer text <p>The Government has worked closely with internet service providers to ensure provision of social tariffs for those on Universal Credit and other means tested benefits – including Pension Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom’s latest Affordability Report shows awareness of social tariffs amongst eligible groups has increased from 16% in February 2022, to 47% in April 2023. The Government recognises more is needed to ensure eligible households know about the support available and continues to work closely with operators, charities, and consumer groups to raise awareness of social tariffs.</p><p> </p><p>In July, Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s Chief Executive, wrote to the sector to set out the regulator’s expectation that they should do more to promote awareness, such as by highlighting tariffs on bills and end-of-contract notifications. We continue to work closely with Ofcom to monitor public awareness of social tariffs as well as the other barriers to take up.</p> answering member printed Viscount Camrose question first answered 13/12/2023 13:27:42 answering member 4939 label Biography information for Viscount Camrose
tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

1661749

registered interest
date	19/09/2023
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Broadband: Social Tariffs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will hold further discussions with telephone and broadband providers on increasing take up of broadband social tariffs.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	200206
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2023 answer text <p>Social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK from over 25 different providers to support those on Universal Credit and other means tested benefits to stay connected.</p><p> </p><p>The Department meets regularly with providers of social tariffs to discuss awareness and take up and continues to work closely with Ofcom to encourage operators to do more to promote their social tariff offers to their customers. On 7 July 2023, Melanie Dawes, the Chief Executive of Ofcom, wrote to industry leaders to set out the regulator’s expectation that they take practical action to increase awareness.</p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Sir John Whittingdale question first answered 17/10/2023 14:15:07 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1658736

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Broadband: Social Tariffs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she is taking steps to increase public awareness of broadband social tariffs.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North West
tabling member printed	Carol Monaghan
uin	198198
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>Information about social tariffs continues to be promoted through the Government’s <a href="https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/housing-support/" target="_blank">Help for Households</a> webpage and other promotional materials. We are also taking advantage of existing cross-government channels - including libraries, the school networks and jobcentre work coaches, to highlight social tariffs to eligible people directly.</p><p> </p><p>The Department continues to work closely with Ofcom - who have a regulatory duty to monitor affordability in the telecoms market - to push operators to do more to promote their social tariff offers. On 7 July 2023, Melanie Dawes, Chief Executive of Ofcom, wrote to industry leaders to set out the regulator’s expectation that they take practical action to increase awareness.</p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Sir John Whittingdale question first answered 11/09/2023 16:53:04 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4443 label Biography information for Carol Monaghan

1650286

registered interest
date	05/07/2023
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Broadband: Social Tariffs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will hold discussions with Ofcom on mobile phone providers raising awareness of the availability of discounted social broadband tariffs for customers.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	192484
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2023 answer text <p>Ofcom has a statutory duty to monitor ongoing household affordability in the sector and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology meets regularly with them to discuss this work and progress.</p><p>In April 2023, Ofcom’s Affordability Report showed 47% of eligible households were aware that telecoms operators provide low-cost offers to low income households. This represents progress since February 2022 - which showed just 16% awareness - but we recognise more is needed to ensure eligible households are aware of the support available.</p><p>The Department will continue to work with Ofcom to encourage the industry to do more to publicise the availability of social tariffs to their customers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Sir John Whittingdale question first answered 10/07/2023 14:31:10 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell