Trade (Mobile Roaming) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Debate between Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath and Viscount Camrose
Viscount Camrose (Con)
My Lords, I also welcome the Minister to the Front Bench. I know that the first OQ is one of the most alarming experiences this House has to offer, but I am sure she will be brilliant and I look forward to hearing it.
On these Benches, we are pleased to support this instrument. As has been outlined, it is a technical measure that updates the wholesale mobile roaming charge caps applying between the United Kingdom, Norway and Iceland, in accordance with the review mechanism established under the UK-EEA EFTA free trade agreement. These arrangements originated in the agreement secured by the previous Government following our departure from the European Union. The agreement provided an important framework to facilitate surcharge-free roaming, while ensuring that wholesale charges between operators remain proportionate and subject to regular review. These regulations do not alter that policy; they simply give effect to revised wholesale caps, following the Joint Committee’s conclusion that the previous figures had diverged from international benchmarks. Indeed, the revised limits represent a reduction in the permitted wholesale charges for voice calls, text messages and, most significantly, mobile data.
It is reassuring that the Government do not anticipate any significant impact on businesses or consumers. As the Explanatory Memorandum notes, wholesale rates are already expected to be below the revised caps in most circumstances, meaning that these regulations are principally about ensuring that domestic legislation remains aligned with our international obligations.
I have one brief question for the Minister. While these regulations concern wholesale rather than retail charges, will the Government continue to monitor whether the benefits of these international agreements are being reflected in the experience of UK consumers travelling abroad? I thank her for her account of these surcharges in some circumstances by some operators, especially as future reviews of the roaming provisions are undertaken. This represents a sensible administrative update and demonstrates the importance of keeping our domestic legislation aligned with agreements negotiated in the national interest. I look forward to the Minister’s response.
Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath (Lab)
My Lords, I am grateful for the support across the Committee for the draft Trade (Mobile Roaming) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. I particularly offer my gratitude and thanks to my noble friend Lord Stansgate, the noble Lord, Lord Clement-Jones, and the noble Viscount, Lord Camrose. I appreciate their comments. I do not think it has made me feel any more secure about next week, but I will hold on to those comments.
I appreciate that this is a somewhat technical amendment, but it is necessary to meet the international obligations we have made with our friends and neighbours —Norway and Iceland—although I take the point from my noble friend about our friendship in Norway following whatever the result is on Saturday. I further appreciate that surcharge-free roaming has not been delivered for all UK travellers to Norway and Iceland. However, keeping the free trade agreement’s wholesale rates up to date with this instrument is a necessary, though insufficient, step for allowing future developments to ensure surcharge-free roaming for UK travellers.
On the questions from the noble Lord, Lord Clement-Jones, the reduction of wholesale prices is welcome. He asked about benchmarking; why there is no equivalent with the EU; about the practical effect, which may be limited with Norway and Iceland; and whether any change will be felt by customers. I remind the noble Lord that this is entirely about wholesale; it is not about retail prices at all. I stress that the Government are continuing to review options for delivering surcharge-free roaming in line with the aspirations of the free trade agreement.
On the options around benefits for UK travellers, which I think the noble Lord was driving at, the Government are continuing to review options for delivering surcharge-free roaming. I can only repeat that. Also, surcharge-free roaming has not yet been ensured for all UK travellers to Norway and Iceland.
In answer to the question of whether the Government are reviewing the delivery of surcharge-free roaming to consumers travelling to Norway and Iceland, yes, that review is planned. Sorry to hop around, but Regulation 13 has not yet been fully examined but it remains under review.
I remind noble Lords that this is strictly about amending the wholesale rates contained in the Trade (Mobile Roaming) Regulations and it has nothing directly to do with consumers, because it does not concern retail prices. It is primarily concerned with fulfilling the commitments that the UK has made under international treaty. I beg to move.