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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings by Which? that broadband services to British households are on average 51 per cent slower than the maximum advertised.

The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) found that allowing companies to advertise headline ‘up to’ broadband speeds - which only need to be available to 10% of customers - was misleading.

As a result, the ASA has announced that numerical speed claims should be based on the download speed available to at least 50% of customers at peak time, and described as ‘average’. This guidance came into effect from 23 May 2018, and has been welcomed by Which?

In addition, Ofcom has amended its code of practice on broadband speeds. From March 2019, Ofcom will require companies to provide customers with a minimum guaranteed speed and more realistic speed estimates for peak times at the point of sale. If a customer's broadband speed falls below the minimum guaranteed speed, the provider will have a month to improve speed, after which customers will have the right to exit their contract without paying a penalty.