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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they are having with Ofcom and mobile network operators, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, to (1) seek assurances that such operators will continue to incorporate overseas calls and internet access in their existing contracts for consumers, and (2) enable consumers to switch from contracts that have changed as a result of any new rules on roaming.

Ministers and officials have carried out extensive engagement on EU exit with representatives of the telecommunications industry, trade bodies, consumer bodies and the regulator Ofcom. In the event of no deal, the government has published a technical notice on mobile roaming. The Technical notice is available here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-roaming-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/mobile-roaming-if-theres-no-brexit-deal.

On switching, certain changes in contractual terms during the term of a contract give the customer the right to exit that contract without penalty. For mobile phone contracts, telecoms companies have to follow rules set out by Ofcom. These set out that a customer is able to exit their contract penalty-free if the change in price under new roaming policies was considered to be material.