Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether any funding will be available to deliver the Digital Inclusion Action Plan beyond the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the United Kingdom and India collaborate on space programmes.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
India is a hugely important partner for the UK, not least because of its size, scale of ambition in science and technology. The UK and India collaborate on space programmes, for example the UK Space Agency is funding the development of an X-Ray imaging instrument, AXIS, in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when she plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Stockport dated 31 May 2023.
Answered by John Whittingdale
I can confirm that we have received your letter. The department aims to reply to correspondence within 20 working days.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department holds data on the number of BT telephone boxes in (a) Stockport constituency, (b) Stockport Borough and (c) Greater Manchester as of 5 June 2023.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology does not hold any data on the number of BT public telephone boxes in any given area. This is due to the fact that the public telephone box network is privately owned.
Having consulted externally with BT the Department can provide the following figures:
Public payphones in:
Stockport Borough Council: 53
Greater Manchester: 741
Any request for further data should be directed to the provider.
There are clear principles that BT must comply with under its Universal Service obligations, as set out in the telephony Universal Service Order, established in 2003. BT must provide public call boxes to meet the reasonable needs of users in terms of geographical coverage, the number of public call boxes and the quality of call box services. The criteria for ‘reasonable needs’ include that the public call box in question is the only one within 800 metres; there are at least 500 households within 1 kilometre, and at least 12 calls have been made from the public call box within the previous 12 months.
At least 70% of public call boxes must also offer cash payment facilities.
If BT wishes to remove a public call box, it must also notify the relevant local authority in writing, allowing 90 days for a response.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether Department has identified cases where people in receipt of (a) Pension Credit, (b) Employment and Support Allowance, (c) Jobseekers' Allowance, (d) Income Support, (e) Personal Independence Payments and (f) Attendance Allowance are ineligible for social tariffs.
Answered by John Whittingdale
Social tariffs are high-quality, low-cost broadband and mobile offers for those in receipt of Universal Credit as well as other means-tested benefits. Offered by a range of providers - including BT, Virgin Media, Sky and Vodafone - social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK starting at £10 per month.
Eligibility criteria for social tariffs are set by individual providers. While these vary, Universal Credit is a key eligibility criteria, and a significant number also include other means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit, Employment Support Allowance, Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Personal Independence Payments or Attendance Allowance. We do not hold data on the number of people ineligible for a social tariff with any of the 19 individual providers.
However, in June 2022, following our negotiations, the major broadband and mobile operators agreed a set of public commitments to support any customer struggling to pay their bills, not just those on benefits. This includes management payment plans or allowing households, who may be mid-contract, to switch to cheaper packages without penalty. We have also been clear with operators that we expect those unable to match a competitor’s social tariff to allow customers to leave - without penalty - so that they may take up that offer.
In regards to whether social tariffs overwrite existing contracts, it is our understanding that when any customer agrees a new service with their provider - including a social tariff - their existing contract is replaced.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether social tariffs overwrite existing broadband contracts for people in receipt of (a) Pension Credit, (b) Employment and Support Allowance, (c) Jobseekers' Allowance, (d) Income Support, (e) Personal Independence Payments and (f) Attendance Allowance.
Answered by John Whittingdale
Social tariffs are high-quality, low-cost broadband and mobile offers for those in receipt of Universal Credit as well as other means-tested benefits. Offered by a range of providers - including BT, Virgin Media, Sky and Vodafone - social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK starting at £10 per month.
Eligibility criteria for social tariffs are set by individual providers. While these vary, Universal Credit is a key eligibility criteria, and a significant number also include other means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit, Employment Support Allowance, Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Personal Independence Payments or Attendance Allowance. We do not hold data on the number of people ineligible for a social tariff with any of the 19 individual providers.
However, in June 2022, following our negotiations, the major broadband and mobile operators agreed a set of public commitments to support any customer struggling to pay their bills, not just those on benefits. This includes management payment plans or allowing households, who may be mid-contract, to switch to cheaper packages without penalty. We have also been clear with operators that we expect those unable to match a competitor’s social tariff to allow customers to leave - without penalty - so that they may take up that offer.
In regards to whether social tariffs overwrite existing contracts, it is our understanding that when any customer agrees a new service with their provider - including a social tariff - their existing contract is replaced.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential risk to national security from a merger between Three and Vodafone.
Answered by John Whittingdale
In October 2022, Vodafone and Three announced that they were in talks to merge their UK businesses. As an open economy, we welcome investment where it supports UK growth and jobs, meets our stringent legal and regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security. We will not hesitate to use our powers, under the National Security and Investment Act, to protect national security if we identify concerns.
On 16 May, Vodafone Group, which operates across 21 countries, announced its annual financial results and strategy to improve performance. The strategy focuses on improving customer experience, growth and simplifying Group structures. Any redundancies as part of this process are a commercial decision for Vodafone Group.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has had discussions with Vodafone on that company's proposals to cut 11,000 jobs.
Answered by John Whittingdale
In October 2022, Vodafone and Three announced that they were in talks to merge their UK businesses. As an open economy, we welcome investment where it supports UK growth and jobs, meets our stringent legal and regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security. We will not hesitate to use our powers, under the National Security and Investment Act, to protect national security if we identify concerns.
On 16 May, Vodafone Group, which operates across 21 countries, announced its annual financial results and strategy to improve performance. The strategy focuses on improving customer experience, growth and simplifying Group structures. Any redundancies as part of this process are a commercial decision for Vodafone Group.