Select committee: Public Accounts Committee
Conclusion 22
Thirteenth Report - Preparedness for online safety regulation
Published 21 Feb 2024
Addressed to HM Treasury
Public Accounts Committee Preparedness for online safety regulation All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
We asked Ofcom whether it has been able to give industry any indication about the likely scale of fees. Ofcom was unable to comment but did highlight that it will run a consultation during which industry can provide input and that ultimately the Government 39 Q 58; C&AG’s Report, para 2.6 40 Q 66 41 C&AG’s Report, para 2.7 42 Q 59 43 Q 59; C&AG’s Report, para 2.6 44 Q 61 45 Q 63; C&AG’s Report, paras 2.6, 2.7 46 Q 62 47 C&AG’s Report, para 2.9 48 Qq 80–82 14 Preparedness for online safety regulation will have a role in deciding on some of the trade-offs involved in setting up the fee regime.49 Ofcom recognised the challenge that more time may be spent regulating smaller and risky companies, which is paid for by larger and more compliant companies. It stated that it will aim to be proportionate, fair and administratively effective with how it sets the fees across the industry.50 Ofcom also told us that it will be completely transparent with industry at the start of each financial year about the fees it will be charging.51 Capacity and skill requirements
From: Public Accounts Committee, Thirteenth Report - Preparedness for online safety regulation (HC 73), 21 February 2024
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 3 May 2024 (deadline 21 April 2024).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government agrees with the Committee's recommendations on codes of practice deadlines, compliance monitoring, the fee regime and evaluation, and disagrees with those on complaint feedback and skills audits.
- On codes of practice, the government agrees and states that Ofcom "is on track" to submit its illegal harms and protection of children Codes to the Secretary of State by 26 April 2025.
- On feedback to complainants, the government disagrees, stating that the Act "does not empower Ofcom to adjudicate on individual complaints"; these should go to the provider.
- On the fee regime, the government agrees. Ofcom will consult publicly in Summer 2024, with the aim of implementing the fees regime in the 2026-27 financial year.
- On skills audits, the government disagrees, stating that both organisations "already have effective workforce planning processes", which fulfil the intent of the recommendation.