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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they supported the decision of the Council of the European Union to postpone the implementation of the European Commission's proposal to abolish roaming charges by 2015 until 2018; and, if so, why.

UK has consistently pushed for faster reductions to roaming charges in the EU, leading to their abolition. I am therefore pleased that, on 29 June, the European Council, Parliament and Commission reached agreement on the Telecoms Single Market Package.

As a result, from June 2017 British visitors will no longer be charged extra to use their mobile phones anywhere in the EU. From June 2016 until the abolition of roaming charges, the amount providers can charge for roaming will be about 25% of current roaming tariffs for calls and data.

The UK has been central to shaping these negotiations, which will result in real benefits for UK consumers, demonstrating that the UK can achieve positive change in the EU when we work with determination with other Member States and the EU institutions.