Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Citizens Advice The real cost of hidden deals, published on 26 September, in particular the finding that people experiencing financial difficulty are paying more for comparable mobile contracts than the average consumer.

The Government was concerned that the Citizens Advice report found that people experiencing financial difficulty and those experiencing mental health problems were more likely to find negotiating their fixed telecoms deal more difficult. Officials have met Citizens Advice to understand the report’s findings in more detail.

We are committed to delivering a telecoms market which works for consumers, including clear and transparent pricing. Ofcom, the independent regulator for telecoms, has introduced requirements to make it easier for people to switch provider if they want to. Ofcom also accredits price comparison websites that meet high standards for accessibility, accuracy, and transparency.