Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with (a) BT and (b) other telecoms providers about promoting social tariffs to providers.

My department has regular engagement with telecoms suppliers, including BT, on a range of matters relating to affordability, including social tariff promotion.

In June 2022, DCMS convened a roundtable with leaders of the UK’s major broadband and mobile operators, agreeing a set of industry commitments to support people through the global rise in the cost of living. This includes a commitment from operators to better promote their low-cost social tariff offers to eligible households.

In November 2022, the then Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure, Julia Lopez MP, chaired a roundtable of broadband and mobile sector CEOs as-well-as leaders from consumer groups to discuss further steps to support customers who may be struggling with their monthly bills, including social tariff promotion.

In addition, we work closely with a range of providers, including BT, as part of our Help for Households campaign to help amplify messaging about the availability of social tariffs.

In January, as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, met with CEOs from broadband and mobile providers to discuss the affordability of services and made clear that they should be doing more to support their customers at this difficult time.