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

With reference to the Penrose review, published in February 2021, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the recommendation in that review that Ofcom should promote competition and reduce regulatory burdens in the communications sector.

Our Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review recognised that promoting competition and stable, long-term regulation were critical to our connectivity ambitions. We embedded these goals into Ofcom’s Statement of Strategic Priorities.

Moreover, work continues across government on the UK’s regulatory frameworks: the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has consulted on reforms to competition and consumer policy; and, the government has set out its vision for modernising the economic regulation of the utilities sectors, including telecommunications.