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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of (a) the type and quantity of data to be shared under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and (b) the additional costs that such data-sharing would incur should a system of national roaming be implemented.

I have recently consulted on potential measures to tackle partial not-spots in mobile phone coverage, including national roaming. The Impact Assessment noted the potential impact the various options, including national roaming, may have on law enforcement work.

Additionally, during the consultation process, my officials held a series of discussions with the Home Office and the four UK mobile network operators (EE, Three, Telefonica, Vodafone) to consider further the impact of each measure on law enforcement. This, together with the responses received to the consultation, is informing our thinking on any potential impact of the consultation options.