Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2026 Economic and fiscal outlook – detailed forecast tables: expenditure, Table 4.11 on Health- and disability-related welfare spending, what assessment has his Department has made of the potential causes of the forecast rise in Personal Independence Payment expenditure for working people from £21.9 billion in 2024-25 to £37.0 billion in 2030-31, and what proportion is due to (a) cost inflation and (b) more people claiming.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
Chapter 4 of the Timms Review evidence pack (Annex B – DWP evidence pack - GOV.UK) sets out factors which have influenced the increase in claims and expenditure in recent years. While this is based on historical influences, many of these factors will continue to apply to the forecast including demographic changes, increasing recognition of certain types of health condition and growing awareness of PIP within a much larger population of disabled people.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is the most recent estimate by his Department of the number of (i) pension age and (ii) working age individuals a year who are claiming the Personal Independent Payment benefit.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
Information on the number of people entitled to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), broken down by whether they are of working age or State Pension age, is available on Stat-Xplore.
You can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest user. Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore is also available here: Personal Independence Payment data on Stat-Xplore: user guide - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
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.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
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.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
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.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
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.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
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.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
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.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
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.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the outcomes of Ireland's Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme; and if she will (a) commission an assessment of a similar pilot in the UK and (b) consider the Isle of Wight as a potential pilot location.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is not currently considering basic income for artists. We believe that British creators are second-to-none and are committed to giving them security and a regulatory and fiscal environment where creativity can flourish. This is exemplified with our recent Employment Rights Act, our appointment of freelance champions Leila D’Aronville and Lizzie Crump and our 5% uplift to National Portfolio Organisations, giving certainty for staff and freelancers.