Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will hold discussions with Ofcom on mobile phone providers raising awareness of the availability of discounted social broadband tariffs for customers.

Ofcom has a statutory duty to monitor ongoing household affordability in the sector and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology meets regularly with them to discuss this work and progress.

In April 2023, Ofcom’s Affordability Report showed 47% of eligible households were aware that telecoms operators provide low-cost offers to low income households. This represents progress since February 2022 - which showed just 16% awareness - but we recognise more is needed to ensure eligible households are aware of the support available.

The Department will continue to work with Ofcom to encourage the industry to do more to publicise the availability of social tariffs to their customers.