Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with Ofcom on the ability of customers to cancel fixed term broadband contracts without penalty when suppliers increase prices during the contract period.

My Department engages regularly with Ofcom on a range of telecoms consumer matters. Ofcom has a statutory duty to monitor ongoing household affordability in the sector, and its General Conditions require telecoms companies to provide clear information about their contracts.

In June 2022, at a roundtable attended by Ofcom, leaders from broadband and mobile operators agreed a set of industry commitments to support people through the global rise in the cost of living. These include manageable payment plans and allowing households, who may be mid-contract but struggling with their bills, to switch to cheaper packages without penalty.

In November, DCMS convened a further ministerial roundtable with the industry, Ofcom, and consumer charities, to discuss further steps to support customers who may be struggling with their monthly bills.