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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps are being taken by her Department to help prevent price increases over and above CPI by telecoms companies.

Annual price increases are contained within the terms and conditions that consumers agree to when taking out their communications service. Ofcom General Condition (c1.3) requires operators to provide customers with a clear summary of their contract terms - including any elements relating to price rises - prior to final sale.

We continue to engage with the sector regarding affordability and pricing. Customers should check whether they are in their minimum contract period as they may be able to save money by negotiating with their existing provider or consider switching. Figures released by Ofcom in November 2021, show that 35% of consumers in 2020 were out of contract, and the average out of contract broadband customer could save more than £61 a year by switching providers.