Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to her Department's publication entitled Public Switched Telephone Network charter, published on 18 December 2023, when she plans to publish a definition of vulnerable customer groups.

The Department is in discussions with stakeholders across Government and industry to arrive at a standard definition of vulnerability specific to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) migration. This will help identify customers that may be vulnerable during the migration, whether through health or personal circumstances, so that they can be better protected.

While agreeing a definition is a priority, it is critical that the final definition is robust and properly tested. The Department is working at pace to do so and will publish a definition as soon as possible.