Every parliamentary written question tabled by Mike Martin this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–6 of 6 · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential financial impact on residents of privately-managed leasehold retirement housing of the requirement to upgrade communal telecare alarm systems to digital infrastructure ahead of the Public Switched Telephone Network switch-off on 31 January 2027; and what steps the Government is taking to ensure those costs do not fall solely on elderly residents on fixed or low incomes.
Awaiting answer.
Innovation and Technology, what his planned timetable is for implementing the reforms to the Electronic Communications Code through the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022.
Most reforms to the Electronic Communications Code through the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 have already been implemented. Government is committed to implementing the remaining provisions as soon as possible. A technical consultation on provisions from the Act that - when commenced - make changes to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and the Business Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 is open until 2 July. We expect to publish a response to this consultation later this year. The exact timeframe depends on the responses to the consultation and issues raised.
Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring social media platforms to (a) implement advanced virtual private network (VPN) detection technology to identify users accessing platforms through VPNs and (b) block VPN users' access, in the context of the risk of anonymous (i) exploitation and (ii) grooming of children online.
The Online Safety Act will place strict ‘illegal content’ duties on online platforms to protect children from being groomed by online predators, and to tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse content on their services.Ofcom sets out steps providers can take for these duties in draft codes of practice. It can assess the merits of any proposed measures for its codes, including those that relate to VPNs. The first codes for the ‘illegal content duties’ came into force in March 2025 and Ofcom has said it will develop these iteratively.
Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) requiring online gaming platforms to join recognised age-rating frameworks and (b) allowing Ofcom to investigate serious individual complaints about gameplay.
While there is no legal requirement for online games to display ratings, most major storefronts require the display of PEGI ratings. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport works closely with the Games Rating Authority in the UK to promote and encourage the display of age ratings online.We expect all platforms, including user-to-user games services in scope of the Online Safety Act, to comply with the law. This currently requires all user-to-user and search services to have systems and processes in place to remove illegal content, and in the coming months, to protect children from harmful content.The government keeps all legislation under review and will act where necessary to keep people safe online.
Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with (a) Google and (b) Apple on in-app purchase fees; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to regulate in-app fees.
The Competition and Markets Authority launched a Strategic Market Status designation investigation in January on both Apple and Google’s position in mobile ecosystems. This investigation is independent to Government and will also include the consideration of in-app purchase fees and conditions. The CMA have consulted on the scope of this investigation and is gathering evidence before publishing a provisional Strategic Market Status designation decision in July.
Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with BT on the speed of the Digital Voice rollout; and what steps he is taking to ensure (a) elderly people, (b) vulnerable people and (c) people reliant on medical alarm systems are given support.
This is an issue the Government takes very seriously. The Government is determined to ensure that any risks arising from the industry-led migration from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated, for all customers across the UK.I chaired two roundtables with communication providers on this issue in September and November 2024, which included BT. Major communication providers and network operators signed voluntary charters in December 2023 and March 2024, and the Government secured further commitments to protect vulnerable customers during the PSTN migration in November 2024. DSIT officials regularly meet, with signatories of the PSTN charters, including BT, to monitor how they are meeting the safeguards. This includes discussions on the speed of the rollout.The Department has acknowledged that customers who may be considered vulnerable in the context of the digital switchover may require additional support. A definition of vulnerable customers was published in November 2024. It includes those who are telecare and other social or medical alarm users. Any customer, including the elderly, can also self-identify as requiring additional support.