Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will take steps to require telecommunications providers to bear financial responsibility for losses arising from scam and spoofed telephone calls to improve accountability under Ofcom’s regulatory framework.

The Government has no plans to require telecommunications providers to bear financial responsibility for losses arising from scam and spoofed telephone calls.

Tackling fraud and pursuing the criminals behind it is a priority for the Government. We are working closely with industry, law enforcement and consumer groups to identify and prosecute criminal activity of this nature.

The Government works closely with Ofcom, the independent regulator, which has a duty to protect consumers and to ensure that UK numbers are not misused. Ofcom has powers to set and enforce rules requiring providers to take steps to prevent fraud and protect consumers, including measures to block scam calls.

In addition, the Government and industry are taking forward collective action through initiatives such as the Telecommunications Fraud Sector Charter and the Fraud Strategy, which set out measures to strengthen the security, traceability and reliability of calls and tackle spoofing.