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Written question asked by Mark Pritchard (Conservative) on Friday, 14 April 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 18 April 2023. It was answered by Julia Lopez (Conservative) on Friday, 21 April 2023 on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Internet: Competition

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will discuss with (a) Ofcom and (b) the Competition Commission potential measures to increase competition and diversity of supply in the provision of commercial and retail cloud data and storage services.

Answer

Fair competition and diversity of supply in the cloud sector is important for our country's economic growth. On 5 April, Ofcom proposed to refer the market to the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) (previously the Competition Commission) for further investigation into competition issues it has identified as part of its market study into cloud services. Ofcom is consulting on that referral.

If the CMA takes forward a market investigation, the CMA could choose to intervene in the market using its existing competition powers or through the new powers it will be granted via the upcoming Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill. The CMA is an operationally independent regulator and any intervention it makes in this market would be at its own discretion.

The Government regularly engages with its regulators and will continue to do so to ensure that the cloud services market remains competitive.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
180745
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Competition Competition Commission Internet Ofcom
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk