Contributions
401 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMobile Phone and Broadband PricesThe resilience of our network is absolutely critical. A fibre network is more resilient to many shocks, so the move to fibre will provide more resilience in the future. It is very…09 Dec 2025HANSARDMobile Phone and Broadband PricesEarlier this year, the Government published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan , which set out a number of the measures that we are taking, on top of the importance of the digital…09 Dec 2025HANSARDMobile Phone and Broadband PricesThe noble Lord is right to stress the importance of investing in our digital infrastructure, both in the mobile network and, I would also say, in the fibre network through Project…09 Dec 2025HANSARDMobile Phone and Broadband PricesThe Chancellor and the Secretary of State have asked Ofcom to review the effectiveness of the changes that came in in January 2025, which set out that consumers must get the…09 Dec 2025HANSARDMobile Phone and Broadband PricesMy noble friend is right to highlight the importance of the ability to have the right contract and of giving consumers the information they need. We have no plans to ban…09 Dec 2025HANSARDMobile Phone and Broadband PricesIt is important that customers feel empowered in engaging in the telecoms market, and confident that they are getting a fair deal. We support Ofcom in taking action to protect…09 Dec 2025HANSARDData Adequacy Status: EU Data Protection StandardsMy Lords, the Government welcomed the publication of the European Commission’s draft adequacy decisions in July, which concluded that the UK continues to provide an essentially…04 Dec 2025HANSARDOnline Safety Act 2023 (Priority Offences) (Amendment) Regulations 2025That the Grand Committee do consider the Online Safety Act 2023 (Priority Offences) (Amendment) Regulations 2025. Relevant document: 40th Report from the Secondary Legislation…04 Dec 2025HANSARDOnline Safety Act 2023 (Priority Offences) (Amendment) Regulations 2025My Lords, these regulations were laid before the House on 21 October this year. Before I proceed further, I draw the Committee’s attention to a correction slip issued for these…04 Dec 2025HANSARDOnline Safety Act 2023 (Priority Offences) (Amendment) Regulations 2025My Lords, I thank noble Lords for their broad support for adding these offences to the priority offences list. This is an important step in improving the online safety regime and…04 Dec 2025HANSARDOnline Safety Act 2023 (Priority Offences) (Amendment) Regulations 2025I think we may need to have this conversation together with Ofcom. My understanding is that doing the risk assessments and putting these offences on the priority list increases…04 Dec 2025HANSARDChildren: Age Verification and Virtual Private NetworksThe Online Safety Act requires services to use highly effective age assurance to prevent children in the UK from encountering harmful content. Ofcom’s guidance makes it clear that…04 Dec 2025HANSARDChildren: Age Verification and Virtual Private NetworksWe recognise the international efforts to better protect children online, including in Australia, and we are working with the Australian Government to understand the impact of…04 Dec 2025HANSARDChildren: Age Verification and Virtual Private NetworksThe noble Lord makes a very good point about the need for accurate, evidence-based research that allows us to take the right action. As noble Lords may have seen, Ofcom published…04 Dec 2025HANSARDChildren: Age Verification and Virtual Private NetworksMy noble friend makes a very important point about the role of all of us in using the technology available to protect ourselves and to equip ourselves to be safe online, and for…04 Dec 2025HANSARDChildren: Age Verification and Virtual Private NetworksI think we all agree that enforcement is an incredibly important part of the Online Safety Act. Ofcom’s enforcement powers include fines of up to £18 million, or 10% of qualifying…04 Dec 2025HANSARDChildren: Age Verification and Virtual Private NetworksWe have ensured that Ofcom is resourced to implement its online safety duties and have increased the amount available to it year on year; its budget is, I think, £92 million to…04 Dec 2025HANSARDChildren: Age Verification and Virtual Private NetworksThe noble Lord makes an important point about the strength of feeling here, which was replicated in the discussions yesterday in the Select Committee. I am very happy to take…04 Dec 2025HANSARDChildren: Age Verification and Virtual Private NetworksI thank the right reverend Prelate for that question. The importance of digital skills and media literacy was highlighted as a recommended area in the curriculum and assessment…04 Dec 2025HANSARDChildren: Age Verification and Virtual Private NetworksMy noble friend highlights the complexity of some of these issues and the importance of understanding exactly the use of VPNs by adults and children, and whether they are indeed…04 Dec 2025