Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Viscount Camrose on 5 April (HL6987, HL6988, HL6989 and HL6990), how at-risk customers, such as the chronically sick and disabled, who will receive additional support during their migration process under the Digital Voice programme, were identified by BT; and how many at-risk customers they identified in total.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
While the number of at-risk customers BT have identified is commercially confidential, BT has developed a range of solutions to help ensure all of its customers, including those who are chronically ill, disabled or require additional support in another way, can have confidence in moving to and using the new home phone service. These options include, among others, free battery back-up units to engineer supported installations or hybrid landline phones. BT will provide the router and a Digital Voice adapter free of charge, on request to customers that need it.
The exact configuration of support each customer will require will vary depending on their specific needs. Customers wishing to contact BT by phone can do so at any time on 0800 800 150 to discuss their specific requirements. Additionally, further information about the range of support on offer is available on the BT website. Other Communications Providers offer similar services. If any customer needs any additional support or if they have additional needs, BT will arrange for an engineer to make a home visit.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Viscount Camrose on 5 April (HL6987, HL6988, HL6989 and HL6990), what connectivity solutions they are proposing under the Digital Voice programme to premises with (1) little or no electricity, or (2) no mobile phone signal, in the event of (a) a power cut, or (b) where a resident does not have or want a mobile phone.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Communication Providers, including BT, have a range of solutions available for Digital Voice customers, particularly those who require extra support. For most customers with additional needs who live in an area with 4G mobile coverage, mobile remains the best way of making calls in the event of a power loss. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is working with industry to extend mobile coverage through projects such as the Shared Rural Network, and also to improve resilience of the mobile network.
Customers who do not have, or do not want, a mobile phone can request a hybrid phone with a built-in battery that switches automatically to the mobile network in the event of a power outage. This device looks and feels like a normal landline handset. For Digital Voice customers who live in an area without mobile signal and are identified as vulnerable, BT will provide a battery back-up unit free of charge. For customers without a fixed broadband connection, BT are also looking at developing a device which functions in the same way as the landline but uses the mobile network instead.
Ofcom estimates that less than 1% of BT landline customers have insufficient 4G mobile coverage in their area to make an emergency call. This number will drop as BT provides further investment to continue expanding its network – since March 2020 EE, part of BT Group, has improved 4G coverage in over 1,500 locations across the UK and expects to improve coverage in hundreds of further locations by June 2024.
We encourage customers who have questions about their power supply to contact their energy provider as Communications Providers do not provide a solution for customers without access to mains power.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Viscount Camrose on 5 April (HL6987, HL6988, HL6989 and HL6990), how future-proofed the Digital Voice solutions will be in terms of (1) future mobile technology, and (2) the range of successive generations.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Communication Providers, including BT, have a range of solutions available for Digital Voice customers, particularly those who require extra support. For most customers with additional needs who live in an area with 4G mobile coverage, mobile remains the best way of making calls in the event of a power loss. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is working with industry to extend mobile coverage through projects such as the Shared Rural Network, and also to improve resilience of the mobile network.
Customers who do not have, or do not want, a mobile phone can request a hybrid phone with a built-in battery that switches automatically to the mobile network in the event of a power outage. This device looks and feels like a normal landline handset. For Digital Voice customers who live in an area without mobile signal and are identified as vulnerable, BT will provide a battery back-up unit free of charge. For customers without a fixed broadband connection, BT are also looking at developing a device which functions in the same way as the landline but uses the mobile network instead.
Ofcom estimates that less than 1% of BT landline customers have insufficient 4G mobile coverage in their area to make an emergency call. This number will drop as BT provides further investment to continue expanding its network – since March 2020 EE, part of BT Group, has improved 4G coverage in over 1,500 locations across the UK and expects to improve coverage in hundreds of further locations by June 2024.
We encourage customers who have questions about their power supply to contact their energy provider as Communications Providers do not provide a solution for customers without access to mains power.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Viscount Camrose on 5 April (HL6987, HL6988, HL6989 and HL6990), who will cover the cost in cases where a (1) broadband router, or (2) Wi-Fi extender, is required under the Digital Voice programme.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Communication Providers, including BT, have a range of solutions available for Digital Voice customers, particularly those who require extra support. For most customers with additional needs who live in an area with 4G mobile coverage, mobile remains the best way of making calls in the event of a power loss. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is working with industry to extend mobile coverage through projects such as the Shared Rural Network, and also to improve resilience of the mobile network.
Customers who do not have, or do not want, a mobile phone can request a hybrid phone with a built-in battery that switches automatically to the mobile network in the event of a power outage. This device looks and feels like a normal landline handset. For Digital Voice customers who live in an area without mobile signal and are identified as vulnerable, BT will provide a battery back-up unit free of charge. For customers without a fixed broadband connection, BT are also looking at developing a device which functions in the same way as the landline but uses the mobile network instead.
Ofcom estimates that less than 1% of BT landline customers have insufficient 4G mobile coverage in their area to make an emergency call. This number will drop as BT provides further investment to continue expanding its network – since March 2020 EE, part of BT Group, has improved 4G coverage in over 1,500 locations across the UK and expects to improve coverage in hundreds of further locations by June 2024.
We encourage customers who have questions about their power supply to contact their energy provider as Communications Providers do not provide a solution for customers without access to mains power.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their timetable for the next stages of review and potential reform of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 to ensure better legal protections for cyber security professionals.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office concluded its public consultation and response to the Call for Information on the Computer Misuse Act on 6th April 2023.
As we set out in the consultation, the question of legal protections is a complex issue, and requires significant further discussion with a wide range of stakeholders. We have committed to work with law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, the cybersecurity industry and system owners to consider proposals, and reach a consensus on the best way forward. This work is under way, and we will provide an update to Parliament in due course.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made (1) of the UK's ability to govern the safety of toys entering the UK marketplace, and (2) the upholding of UK consumer protections, during trade agreement negotiations.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK’s product safety regulatory framework, as regulated by the Office for Product Safety and Standards, provides a high level of protection to consumers. Any trade negotiations seek to achieve growth in the economy while also ensuring the safety of UK consumers.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the Office for Product Safety and Standards will publish its Product Safety Review.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Product Safety Review consultation is currently being finalised and will be published shortly.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to limit the number of dangerous toys sold by third-party sellers on online marketplaces.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK has strict laws that require that all consumer products must be safe before being placed on the UK market, either online or the high street.
The UK product regulator, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), has prioritised activities to target unsafe products sold by third party sellers online, including toys. Activities include checks on goods entering through borders, test purchasing and assessment of goods available online. OPSS is tackling the most serious cases by requiring recalls and takedowns and where necessary, taking enforcement action to prevent unsafe products from being made available to UK consumers. My colleague Minister Hollinrake and senior officials have held meetings with the major online marketplaces demanding they take more action to fulfil their responsibilities for supplying safe goods.
The Government is reviewing the product safety framework. Following its Call for Evidence, a consultation, including proposals to ensure that supply chain responsibilities are clear and concerns about the sale of unsafe products online are addressed, is being finalised and will be published shortly.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of unsafe products, such as toys, sold via third-party sellers in the UK.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK has strict laws that require that all consumer products must be safe before being placed on the UK market, either online or the high street.
The UK product regulator, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), has prioritised activities to target unsafe products sold by third party sellers online, including toys. Activities include checks on goods entering through borders, test purchasing and assessment of goods available online. OPSS is tackling the most serious cases by requiring recalls and takedowns and where necessary, taking enforcement action to prevent unsafe products from being made available to UK consumers. My colleague Minister Hollinrake and senior officials have held meetings with the major online marketplaces demanding they take more action to fulfil their responsibilities for supplying safe goods.
The Government is reviewing the product safety framework. Following its Call for Evidence, a consultation, including proposals to ensure that supply chain responsibilities are clear and concerns about the sale of unsafe products online are addressed, is being finalised and will be published shortly.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Office of Product Safety and Standards regarding the number of unsafe products, such as toys, sold by third-party sellers on online marketplaces.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK has strict laws that require that all consumer products must be safe before being placed on the UK market, either online or the high street.
The UK product regulator, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), has prioritised activities to target unsafe products sold by third party sellers online, including toys. Activities include checks on goods entering through borders, test purchasing and assessment of goods available online. OPSS is tackling the most serious cases by requiring recalls and takedowns and where necessary, taking enforcement action to prevent unsafe products from being made available to UK consumers. My colleague Minister Hollinrake and senior officials have held meetings with the major online marketplaces demanding they take more action to fulfil their responsibilities for supplying safe goods.
The Government is reviewing the product safety framework. Following its Call for Evidence, a consultation, including proposals to ensure that supply chain responsibilities are clear and concerns about the sale of unsafe products online are addressed, is being finalised and will be published shortly.