Clause 5 - General duty of OFCOM to ensure compliance with security duties

Part of Telecommunications (Security) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 3:30 pm on 21 January 2021.

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Photo of Chi Onwurah Chi Onwurah Shadow Minister (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy), Shadow Minister (Digital, Culture, Media and Sport), Shadow Minister (Science, Research and Innovation) 3:30, 21 January 2021

I thank the Minister for giving way; in doing so, he shortens what I will say later. I think the Minister is saying that ofcom has the power to require information, which is true, but the Amendment is about providers proactively giving that information. Ofcom cannot request information about a change to the networks that it does not know is happening. I am hoping that perhaps what the Minister is implying is that he would expect Ofcom regularly to review what was changing in the networks and therefore make those requests for further information. Could he clarify that point?

Clause

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OFCOM

Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.

Ofcom Web Site http://www.ofcom.org.uk

amendment

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Minister

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Ofcom

Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.

Ofcom Web Site http://www.ofcom.org.uk