Ofcom: Standards
Culture Media and Sport
Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire, Liberal Democrat)
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he takes to monitor the performance of Ofcom; and if he will make a statement.
Stephen Timms (Financial Secretary, HM Treasury; East Ham, Labour)
I have been asked to reply.
The Office of Communications (Ofcom) is the regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries. Ministers do not monitor Ofcom's performance because the regulator is independent of Government and is accountable directly to Parliament. Ofcom is required to report annually to Parliament through the annual plan and report and accounts.