Select committee: Public Accounts Committee
Conclusion 23
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)
To deliver its online safety work, Ofcom reported that it has increased its headcount, from around 950 people to what will probably be around 1,500, an increase of about 50%.52 Progress in meeting its staffing requirements has been broadly to schedule.53 Ofcom described such a major recruitment programme as both a challenge and an opportunity to improve the overall shape and make-up of the organisation. It had been able to grow its expertise in technology and data, and now had a workforce that was more spread across the country.54 Ofcom has, so far, recruited from a variety of relevant bodies, including civil society bodies such as the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and Internet Watch Foundation, law enforcement agencies, such as the National Crime Agency, other regulators, and online service providers such as Google and Meta.55
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.