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 impact of increases in the price of broadband packages on the ability of people to access essential online services.

We recognise that this is clearly a difficult time for families up and down the country who are struggling to pay their bills as a result of the global rise in the cost of living.

On 23 January, the former Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport met with Chief Executives from major broadband providers at which she asked them to consider carefully the need, at this time, for above inflation price increases and highlighted the impact they may have on those already struggling to pay their bills.

My department has also negotiated a range of high-quality, low-cost broadband social tariffs for households in receipt of Universal Credit and other means tested benefits from as little as £12 per month. These are available in 99% of the UK and may represent a 50% saving from the average-priced broadband package.

Ofcom, the independent regulator, has a statutory duty to assess the affordability in the telecoms market. My department engages regularly with them on matters relating to the affordability of broadband and other telecoms services.

We encourage anyone who is struggling to afford their broadband service to contact their supplier and see what support is available.