Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will issue guidance to local authorities on the proportionate use of taxi and private hire operator suspension powers under the English Devolution Act.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

New powers adopted in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act will enable local authorities to immediately suspend licenses in the interests of public safety, regardless of where a driver is licensed. To support licensing authorities in using this new power, the Government will provide guidance on its use to ensure it is exercised consistently and where justified by the circumstances of the case.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has had discussions with Ofcom on the number of complaints it has received from micro and small businesses relating to the mis-selling of telecommunications contracts in each of the last five years.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Small businesses should feel confident they are treated fairly when buying telecoms services. Ofcom’s General Conditions provide important protections, including on clear contract information, contract summaries, termination rights, contract length and access to alternative dispute resolution.

In April 2026, the Government designated its Statement of Strategic Priorities that emphasised that Ofcom should continue to ensure that businesses across the country, including those in rural areas, are able to access the fast, reliable, and resilient broadband services they need to thrive. The regulator should work to ensure a healthy business connectivity market is treated as a priority.

Government has not made a separate assessment with Ofcom on mis-selling complaints and monitoring compliance, and enforcement are matters for Ofcom. However, Ofcom has provided data showing small business mis-selling complaints of 357 in 2024, 273 in 2025, and 123 in 2026 as of 14 September, representing a gradual decrease over a 3-year period.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Ofcom's enforcement of its General Conditions in relation to the sale of telecommunications services to micro and small enterprises.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Small businesses should feel confident they are treated fairly when buying telecoms services. Ofcom’s General Conditions provide important protections, including on clear contract information, contract summaries, termination rights, contract length and access to alternative dispute resolution.

In April 2026, the Government designated its Statement of Strategic Priorities that emphasised that Ofcom should continue to ensure that businesses across the country, including those in rural areas, are able to access the fast, reliable, and resilient broadband services they need to thrive. The regulator should work to ensure a healthy business connectivity market is treated as a priority.

Government has not made a separate assessment with Ofcom on mis-selling complaints and monitoring compliance, and enforcement are matters for Ofcom. However, Ofcom has provided data showing small business mis-selling complaints of 357 in 2024, 273 in 2025, and 123 in 2026 as of 14 September, representing a gradual decrease over a 3-year period.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of protections for micro and small businesses entering into long-term telecommunications contracts.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Small businesses should feel confident they are treated fairly when buying telecoms services. Ofcom’s General Conditions provide important protections, including on clear contract information, contract summaries, termination rights, contract length and access to alternative dispute resolution.

In April 2026, the Government designated its Statement of Strategic Priorities that emphasised that Ofcom should continue to ensure that businesses across the country, including those in rural areas, are able to access the fast, reliable, and resilient broadband services they need to thrive. The regulator should work to ensure a healthy business connectivity market is treated as a priority.

Government has not made a separate assessment with Ofcom on mis-selling complaints and monitoring compliance, and enforcement are matters for Ofcom. However, Ofcom has provided data showing small business mis-selling complaints of 357 in 2024, 273 in 2025, and 123 in 2026 as of 14 September, representing a gradual decrease over a 3-year period.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the prevalence of mis-selling of telecommunications contracts to micro and small businesses.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Small businesses should feel confident they are treated fairly when buying telecoms services. Ofcom’s General Conditions provide important protections, including on clear contract information, contract summaries, termination rights, contract length and access to alternative dispute resolution.

In April 2026, the Government designated its Statement of Strategic Priorities that emphasised that Ofcom should continue to ensure that businesses across the country, including those in rural areas, are able to access the fast, reliable, and resilient broadband services they need to thrive. The regulator should work to ensure a healthy business connectivity market is treated as a priority.

Government has not made a separate assessment with Ofcom on mis-selling complaints and monitoring compliance, and enforcement are matters for Ofcom. However, Ofcom has provided data showing small business mis-selling complaints of 357 in 2024, 273 in 2025, and 123 in 2026 as of 14 September, representing a gradual decrease over a 3-year period.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of compliance within the telecommunications sector with Ofcom General Condition C1.11 relating to contract commitment periods for micro and small enterprises.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Small businesses should feel confident they are treated fairly when buying telecoms services. Ofcom’s General Conditions provide important protections, including on clear contract information, contract summaries, termination rights, contract length and access to alternative dispute resolution.

In April 2026, the Government designated its Statement of Strategic Priorities that emphasised that Ofcom should continue to ensure that businesses across the country, including those in rural areas, are able to access the fast, reliable, and resilient broadband services they need to thrive. The regulator should work to ensure a healthy business connectivity market is treated as a priority.

Government has not made a separate assessment with Ofcom on mis-selling complaints and monitoring compliance, and enforcement are matters for Ofcom. However, Ofcom has provided data showing small business mis-selling complaints of 357 in 2024, 273 in 2025, and 123 in 2026 as of 14 September, representing a gradual decrease over a 3-year period.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution arrangements for micro and small businesses in disputes with telecommunications providers.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Small businesses should feel confident they are treated fairly when buying telecoms services. Ofcom’s General Conditions provide important protections, including on clear contract information, contract summaries, termination rights, contract length and access to alternative dispute resolution.

In April 2026, the Government designated its Statement of Strategic Priorities that emphasised that Ofcom should continue to ensure that businesses across the country, including those in rural areas, are able to access the fast, reliable, and resilient broadband services they need to thrive. The regulator should work to ensure a healthy business connectivity market is treated as a priority.

Government has not made a separate assessment with Ofcom on mis-selling complaints and monitoring compliance, and enforcement are matters for Ofcom. However, Ofcom has provided data showing small business mis-selling complaints of 357 in 2024, 273 in 2025, and 123 in 2026 as of 14 September, representing a gradual decrease over a 3-year period.