Government response to the Committee's report 'Digital exclusion', HL Paper 219, 3rd Report, Session 2022-23

This is the government's response, published 20 October 2023.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government agrees that digital exclusion is affecting millions of people, says "there is more to be done", and responds by creating a cross-Whitehall ministerial group rather than a dedicated unit.

• On the recommended cross-government unit, it says a dedicated unit "risks separating inclusion from dedicated policy expertise", and will instead "establish a dedicated cross-Whitehall ministerial group" chaired by the Minister for Tech and Digital Economy.
• On VAT, it states "there are no plans to deviate from the standard VAT rate" for retail or wholesale social tariffs, though it "keeps taxation policy under review".
• On advertising of social tariffs, it has "no plans to provide Ofcom with powers to regulate how and where telecoms companies advertise their products". It also says a clearer definition of a social tariff may "create a standardised product".
• On donating old devices, it says security and data privacy concerns prevent DSIT donating at present, but it "will conduct a substantive review" of its position to identify "a potential roadmap to future donation".

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