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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2022 to Question 129183 on Digital Technology: Disadvantaged, if he will take steps to help internet providers offer free internet connections to low-income households.

A number of fixed broadband providers have introduced affordable social tariffs to market, with BT, Virgin Media O2, Hyperoptic and other providers offering discounted tariffs to households in receipt of Universal Credit and other means-tested benefits, starting at £10 per month. Between them, these products are available to 99% of households across the country.

We continue to monitor the effectiveness of these products in supporting low-income households' access to broadband.

Support for low-income households accessing broadband is available through the Department for Work and Pensions partnership with TalkTalk to provide all job-seekers a free 6 month broadband connection.

The Good Things Foundation has established a National Databank in partnership with Virgin Media 02, Vodafone and Three, to provide over 7.5 million gigabytes of free mobile data to local communities to provide connectivity to those that need it.