Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Accepted in Part
Require government to ensure and promote social tariffs for older people, strengthening regulation.
Recommendation
Social broadband and mobile phone tariffs can allow eligible low-income households to make significant savings on their bills, yet few eligible older people are aware of them. The Government should work with groups representing older people and broadband and mobile phone network providers to ensure the provision and promotion of social broadband and mobile phone network tariffs for older people on lower incomes. We further recommend the Government consider strengthening the relevant regulatory regimes to ensure that adequate social tariff options are available and promoted, enforced via financial penalties for providers’ non-compliance if necessary. (Recommendation, Paragraph 63)
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation to work with partners to promote awareness of social tariffs, referencing its Digital Inclusion Action Plan. However, it currently has no plans to strengthen regulatory regimes for mandated social tariffs but will monitor the market.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The government welcomes the Committee’s recommendation. We agree that access to connectivity services is increasingly essential. We also recognise that broadband and mobile services may not be affordable for those on very low incomes. We also agree that many people are not aware of the support that is available. In recognition of this, in February 2025, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan, the first UK government publication on digital inclusion in over 10 years. The Action Plan sets out our first steps towards tackling digital exclusion for everyone across the UK, regardless of their circumstances. One focus of the Action Plan is ensuring high-quality, reliable and affordable broadband and mobile services for those on very low incomes, and one of the five target groups identified in the Action Plan who will benefit most from digital inclusion interventions is older people. The Action Plan covers what the government is going to do to help signpost those without access to connectivity at home, or with limited data allowances, to how they can get online for free, and it contains several industry pledges including how telecoms companies are going to help get people online. The Action Plan also recognises the safety net provided by social tariffs, which are currently offered voluntarily by over 25 mobile and broadband providers from £12 per month. All major providers include pension credit in their eligibility criteria. Ofcom, the independent regulator of telecoms services, found that social tariffs could provide consumers with savings of over £220 per year on their fixed broadband bills, which could make a real difference to household finances. As social tariffs are offered voluntarily by operators, their services and eligibility criteria vary. However, Ofcom found that around 85% of homes that currently have fixed broadband are now able to access a social tariff (if they are on qualifying benefits) without switching provider or incurring an early termination charge. While take-up of social tariffs has increased to over 500,000 customers, an increase of over 125,000 (33%) since September 2023 (when take-up was 380,000), the government agrees that more needs to be done to increase awareness of social tariffs. The government will work with partners including operators, charities, consumer groups and others to ensure people are aware of the support available. As there is a wide range of social tariffs available to millions of households, we currently have no plans for a regulated social tariff, however, the Department will continue to work with Ofcom to monitor the market and we will keep this under review.