Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to Part 4, Chapter 2, of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill, what discussions her Department has had with businesses on (a) its provisions on subscription contracts and (b) the proportionality regulatory principle.

In ‘Reforming competition and consumer policy’ Government consulted on options to address consumer harm from unwanted subscription contracts https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reforming-competition-and-consumer-policy.

There were 188 responses, including 94 from businesses, business representatives, and trade associations. Alongside the consultation, and since, the department also held regular meetings and roundtables with business representatives. Government analysed the consultation responses, gathering further evidence from businesses where needed, and is implementing the measures which best balance the benefits to consumers and the associated costs to business. The cost to business and benefits to consumers is detailed in our impact assessment "Digital Competition and Consumers Bill: Subscription measures”: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-03/0294/ImpactAssessmentAnnex2.pdf.