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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2016 to Question 49393, what powers she has to set the limits of the markets which Ofcom regulates.

As the UK’s independent communications regulator, it is for Ofcom to define the markets that it regulates.

Under the EU Electronic Communications Framework Directive, the national regulatory authorities must analyse their national electronic communications markets, in consultation with the industry, and propose appropriate regulatory measures to address any market failures that might be hampering competition. These findings and proposals must be notified to the Commission and other national authorities, ensuring that the rules are applied consistently in all Member States.

The Commission has established a list of markets for electronic communications that it considers should be the starting point for this national analysis.