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1506868

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
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	Nuisance Calls
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 assessment she has made of the effectiveness of (a) the Telephone Preference Service and (b) the powers of the Information Commissioner's Office to make directors liable for the fines imposed on their companies, in the context of helping to tackle nuisance calls.
tabling member constituency	Bosworth
tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
uin	52012
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/09/2022 answer text <p>The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) continues to provide an important free service for people and businesses who wish to opt out of receiving unsolicited live sales and marketing calls. Anyone who wishes to add their landline or mobile number to the TPS database can do so by visiting tpsonline.org.uk. Once a number has been registered, direct marketing organisations are legally required under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) to refrain from calling it.</p><p>The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) enforces the law and has powers to fine persons that break it. In 2021/22, the ICO issued over £2.8 million in fines issued to companies responsible for nuisance calls, texts and emails.</p><p>The ICO are currently considering responses to their consultation on new regulatory guidance on the use of their enforcement powers under PECR. This includes consideration of the circumstances where it would be appropriate to fine organisations or individual directors; and the factors the ICO would take into account when setting the level of a monetary penalty. The draft guidance can be viewed on the <a href="https://ico.org.uk/media/about-the-ico/consultations/4019214/statutory-guidance-on-our-pecr-powers-2021-for-consultation.pdf" target="_blank">ICO’s website</a>.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 27/09/2022 09:53:49 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans

1485095

registered interest
date	30/06/2022
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 and Mobile Phones: Standards
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 he has made of the effectiveness of Ofcom in improving customer service standards in the mobile and broadband sector.
tabling member constituency	Bosworth
tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
uin	28501
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2022 answer text <p>Ofcom has industry rules in place which are designed to protect consumers - specifically around complaints processes and customer access to alternative dispute resolution procedures. In June 2019, major broadband and mobile providers signed up to Ofcom’s voluntary <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/media/media-releases/2019/broadband-and-phone-firms-put-fairness-first" target="_blank">Fairness Commitments</a> which sought to encourage signatory providers to embed fairness across their businesses. In <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ofcom.org.uk%2F__data%2Fassets%2Fpdf_file%2F0030%2F218676%2Ffairness-commitments-monitoring-report.pdf&amp;data=05%7C01%7CAnjli.Dixon%40ofcom.org.uk%7Ce89e8e7eef62428eb34108da5b72ba07%7C0af648de310c40688ae4f9418bae24cc%7C0%7C0%7C637922845541504303%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=mOabmj6FOqnyHstgTlcYxUvy88BwS8z5FkfDPqcCS2w%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">May 2021</a>, Ofcom reviewed progress against the Fairness Commitments and identified customer service levels as an area of concern, as such this is likely to be a focus for future work on the Commitments.</p><p>In May 2022, Ofcom published its customer service tracking <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/237639/comparing-customer-service-report-2022.pdf" target="_blank">report </a>for mobile, broadband and landline, which is based on customers’ experiences in 2021, amid the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Ofcom found that overall customer satisfaction levels were high - with 91% of mobile customers and 83% of broadband customers satisfied with their service overall. However, service levels did not return to 2019 levels across the industry. Ofcom will continue to engage with providers and challenge them to prioritise service improvements to beyond pre-pandemic levels.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 11/07/2022 13:25:11 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans

1420819

registered interest
date	08/02/2022
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 and Mobile Phones: 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 assessment he has made of the impact on consumers of recent and planned above inflation prices rises in mobile and broadband contracts.
tabling member constituency	Bosworth
tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
uin	120942
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/02/2022 answer text <p>We appreciate that price rises are never welcome, and we understand the recent increases announced by some operators may be particularly unwelcome given the wider pressures on the cost of living.</p><p>We are engaging with mobile and broadband providers to explore ways that they can provide support to households who may be facing challenges paying their bills.</p><p>The recent price increases announced by some providers are contained within the terms and conditions that consumers agreed to when taking out their service. We encourage customers to first check whether they are in contract or whether they might be able to leave without penalty. Figures released by Ofcom in November 2021, show that 35% of consumers in 2020 were out of contract, and the average out of contract broadband customer could save more than £61 a year by switching.</p><p>Consumers who are bound by their contract may benefit from speaking with their provider and discussing the options that may be available to support them.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 120943 question first answered 15/02/2022 16:34:27 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans

1420823

registered interest
date	08/02/2022
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 and Mobile Phones: 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 assessment she has made of the willingness of mobile and broadband providers to minimise the impact of recent cost increases on consumers.
tabling member constituency	Bosworth
tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
uin	120943
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/02/2022 answer text <p>We appreciate that price rises are never welcome, and we understand the recent increases announced by some operators may be particularly unwelcome given the wider pressures on the cost of living.</p><p>We are engaging with mobile and broadband providers to explore ways that they can provide support to households who may be facing challenges paying their bills.</p><p>The recent price increases announced by some providers are contained within the terms and conditions that consumers agreed to when taking out their service. We encourage customers to first check whether they are in contract or whether they might be able to leave without penalty. Figures released by Ofcom in November 2021, show that 35% of consumers in 2020 were out of contract, and the average out of contract broadband customer could save more than £61 a year by switching.</p><p>Consumers who are bound by their contract may benefit from speaking with their provider and discussing the options that may be available to support them.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 120942 question first answered 15/02/2022 16:34:27 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans

1420824

registered interest
date	08/02/2022
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 and Mobile Phones: Social Tariffs
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 she has made of the level of public awareness of social tariffs.
tabling member constituency	Bosworth
tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
uin	120944
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2022 answer text <p>There are a range of social tariff products currently available to over 5 million households in receipt of Universal Credit support, and other means tested benefits. These offers are available to eligible households in over 99% of the country.</p><p>In July 2021, Ofcom reported take-up of social tariffs to be between approximately 1-2% of eligible households, so we are aware that more can be done to increase consumer awareness and encourage take-up of these offers.</p><p>We welcome increased promotion and consumer signposting of the social tariff products by providers such as BT, Virgin Media O2 and Hyperoptic.</p><p>DCMS is also working closely with colleagues across the government, including the Department for Work &amp; Pensions and the Department for Education, to raise consumer awareness of social tariffs through local stakeholder channels to ensure that the individuals who may be eligible for social tariffs are made aware of the support available to them.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 22/02/2022 12:03:34 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans

1404814

registered interest
date	20/01/2022
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: Poverty
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 she has made of the impact of the communications sectors’ work with low-income families in (a) the UK and (b) Leicestershire to ensure the affordability of broadband for low-income families.
tabling member constituency	Bosworth
tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
uin	108630
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2022 answer text <p>The Department continues to work alongside Ofcom to monitor the affordability of telecoms services.</p><p>Fixed-broadband social tariff products are currently available to over 5 million low-income households in receipt of Universal Credit support and other means-tested benefits, such as Pension Credit, Income Support and Job-Seekers Allowance. These tariffs are available in 99% of the UK. We encourage anyone with financial concerns to speak with their provider about the support that may be available to them.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 27/01/2022 13:10:04 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans

1403955

registered interest
date	18/01/2022
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	Business and Retail Trade: Platinum Jubilee 2022
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 she is taking to support (a) high streets and (b) local businesses in their celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
tabling member constituency	Bosworth
tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
uin	106899
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2022 answer text <p>Her Majesty's Government is delighted to be supporting the celebrations to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and there are many ways that we are helping high streets and local businesses to join in and benefit from this national moment.</p><p>The Government has written to Local Authorities in England, highlighting the many opportunities for their communities to get involved in the celebrations. The Home Office are currently consulting on extending the licensing hours over the bank holiday weekend. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) set out a cross-Whitehall vision through the <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fnews%2Fgovernment-strategy-to-regenerate-high-streets&amp;data=04%7C01%7CKathryn.Campbell-Savours%40communities.gov.uk%7Cc2bae75b500a4edba46908d9dc2ce69c%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637782907661984885%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=ac0LQA2Q3hsebzqg7OxbQXFHAMreYQ8tdXShmYplzq4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">High Streets Strategy</a> and government’s commitment to support celebrations and involvement of communities.</p><p>Those local authorities who have signed up to take part in the Government’s Welcome Back Fund may choose to use their allocation to undertake preparations for the Platinum Jubilee, before the Fund ends on 31 March 2022.</p><p>The Platinum Jubilee Emblem is available, free of charge, to all communities and businesses.</p><p>The Government’s dedicated Platinum Jubilee website contains information on sources of funding, including £22m of <a href="https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/news/press-releases/2021-11-17/over-22million-the-queens-platinum-jubilee" target="_blank">Lottery funding</a>. The website also contains an <a href="https://platinumjubilee.gov.uk/events/" target="_blank">online map</a> onto which event organisers can add their events and Jubilee celebrations.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 24/01/2022 14:47:40 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans

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

1379534

registered interest
date	17/11/2021
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: Housing
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 progress she has been made in requiring gigabit capable broadband for new build homes in time for Spring 2022.
tabling member constituency	Bosworth
tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
uin	76840
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/11/2021 answer text <p>Following the consultation response which set out our policy proposals last year, we have worked with industry stakeholders and other government departments to develop legislative proposals that will ensure that new homes are future-proofed with gigabit-ready infrastructure and built with gigabit-capable connections.</p><p>We will shortly be publishing a statutory technical consultation on our legislative proposals and seek to lay the implementing regulations in Parliament as soon as possible.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 25/11/2021 09:34:06 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans

1359258

registered interest
date	15/10/2021
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	Telecommunications: Infrastructure
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 progress her Department has made on responding to the consultation on further legislative changes to the Electronic Communications Code.
tabling member constituency	Bosworth
tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
uin	56293
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2021 answer text <p>Since the consultation on the Electronic Communications Code closed on 24 March 2021, officials have been analysing the responses received. The government’s response will be published once this process is completed.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 22/10/2021 08:44:43 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans