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This briefing covers the rules governing trade unions, the rights of union members, collective bargaining, strikes and other industrial action
This briefing covers the rules governing trade unions, the rights of union members, collective bargaining, strikes and other industrial action
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that businesses simplify the processes of cancelling subscriptions.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that businesses simplify the processes of cancelling subscriptions.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 introduces new consumer protections for consumers in subscriptions. Once the new regime comes into force, businesses will be required to provide clear information before the consumer signs up, send regular reminders about renewals, and ensure it is straightforward to cancel. This includes allowing online cancellation if the consumer can sign up online. In addition, consumers will have a new 14-day renewal cooling-off period after a trial or a contract of 12 months or more auto-renews.
Government has consulted on regulatory proposals to implement the regime and the response can be found here.
This paper outlines the current regulation of doorstep selling (or cold calling) under the provisions of the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. It also provides information on how 'No Cold Calling Zones' work in practice.
This paper outlines the current regulation of doorstep selling (or cold calling) under the provisions of the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. It also provides information on how 'No Cold Calling Zones' work in practice.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with technology companies on automatically renewed subscriptions for services and the ease of cancellation of those subscriptions.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with technology companies on automatically renewed subscriptions for services and the ease of cancellation of those subscriptions.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 sets out new consumer protection rules for subscription contracts. Once the rules are in force, traders will have to provide clear information about subscription contracts before a consumer signs up, ensure that arrangements to exit the contract are straightforward, and provide a 14-day cooling-off period after a 12month+ contract or trial auto-renews.
Secondary legislation is required to implement the regime. We consulted on proposals and the Government Response can be found here: Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime - GOV.UK
My officials and I have engaged with businesses from across the economy, including technology companies, and will continue to do so in advance of the new rules coming into force.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2026 to Question 2387, if he will publish a list of all newspaper work subscriptions held by (a) the Director of Communications, (b) the Press Secretary and (c) other staff at 10 Downing Street since...
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2026 to Question 2387, if he will publish a list of all newspaper work subscriptions held by (a) the Director of Communications, (b) the Press Secretary and (c) other staff at 10 Downing Street since...
I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 21 May 2026, Official Report, PQ 2387.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the (a) Director of Communications, (b) Press Secretary and (c) other staff at 10 Downing Street had a work subscription to the Independent newspaper since July 2024.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the (a) Director of Communications, (b) Press Secretary and (c) other staff at 10 Downing Street had a work subscription to the Independent newspaper since July 2024.
The Government has access to a range of media outlets.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any (a) Director of Communications, (b) Press Secretary and (c) other staff at 10 Downing Street has had a work subscription to the Independent newspaper since July 2024.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any (a) Director of Communications, (b) Press Secretary and (c) other staff at 10 Downing Street has had a work subscription to the Independent newspaper since July 2024.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the Competition and Markets Authority on enforcement action against companies operating misleading subscription models.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the Competition and Markets Authority on enforcement action against companies operating misleading subscription models.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA) 2024 sets out new consumer protection rules for subscription contracts. Once the rules are in force, traders will have to provide clear information about subscription contracts before a consumer signs up, ensure that arrangements to exit the contract are straightforward, and provide a 14-day cooling-off period after a 12month+ contract or trial auto-renews.
The government has recently published its response to the Consultation on the Implementation of the new Subscription Contracts Regime: Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime - GOV.UK. We engaged with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) during the consultation.
The CMA and local Trading Standards can take enforcement action against breaches of consumer protection law, including breaches of the existing and new subscription rules once they are in force. The DMCCA gives the CMA new powers to impose fines of up to 10% of global turnover on businesses who infringe consumer protection law. We will continue to engage with the CMA ahead of new regulations commencing.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of deceptive online subscription practices, including misleading free trials and unclear recurring payment terms.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of deceptive online subscription practices, including misleading free trials and unclear recurring payment terms.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA) 2024 sets out new consumer protection rules for subscription contracts. Once the rules are in force, traders will have to provide clear information about subscription contracts before a consumer signs up, ensure that arrangements to exit the contract are straightforward, and provide a 14-day cooling-off period after a 12month+ contract or trial auto-renews.
Secondary legislation is required to implement the regime. We consulted on proposals and the Government Response can be found here: Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime - GOV.UK.
The new protections will save the average consumer £14 per month for every unwanted subscription they cancel. The Department for Business and Trade published an Impact Assessment alongside the DMCCA: Subscription traps: annex 2 impact assessment.
To ask the Solicitor General, what recent guidance has been issued to prosecutors regarding enforcement against companies engaging in misleading subscription practices.
To ask the Solicitor General, what recent guidance has been issued to prosecutors regarding enforcement against companies engaging in misleading subscription practices.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 sets out new consumer protection rules for subscription contracts. Once the rules are in force, traders will have to provide clear information about subscription contracts before a consumer signs up, ensure that arrangements to exit the contract are straightforward, and provide a 14-day cooling-off period after a 12month+ contract or trial auto-renews.
The government has recently published its response to the Consultation on the Implementation of the new Subscription Contracts Regime: Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime - GOV.UK.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and local Trading Standards can take enforcement action against breaches of consumer protection law, including breaches of the existing and new subscription rules once they are in force. The DMCCA gives the CMA new powers to impose fines of up to 10% of global turnover on businesses who infringe consumer protection law. We will continue to engage with the CMA ahead of new regulations commencing.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring banks to implement stronger safeguards or alerts for recurring payments initiated after free trials.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring banks to implement stronger safeguards or alerts for recurring payments initiated after free trials.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA) 2024 sets out new consumer protection rules for subscription contracts. Once the rules are in force, traders will have to provide clear information about subscription contracts before a consumer signs up, ensure that arrangements to exit the contract are straightforward, and provide a 14-day cooling-off period after a 12month+ contract or trial auto-renews.
Secondary legislation is required to implement the regime. We consulted on proposals and the Government Response can be found here: Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime - GOV.UK
The new protections will save the average consumer £14 per month for every unwanted subscription they cancel. The Department for Business and Trade published an Impact Assessment alongside the DMCCA: Subscription traps: annex 2 impact assessment
The DMCCA requirements will apply to traders offering subscriptions and the Government currently has no plans to introduce new requirements on banks to tackle subscription traps. The Government will keep the effectiveness of the new rules under review.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on household costs of a transition from digital terrestrial television to IPTV, in the context of the requirement for broadband subscriptions to access television services.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on household costs of a transition from digital terrestrial television to IPTV, in the context of the requirement for broadband subscriptions to access television services.
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that television services remain affordable and accessible to all households, and that universal access to free-to-air public service broadcasting is maintained.
No decisions have been taken on the future of TV distribution. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is working closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to consider the full range of factors relevant to the future of digital terrestrial television.
Any future decisions would take into account the impact on household costs, including in the context of broadband requirements, and the need to ensure that audiences can continue to access public service content easily and affordably, while maintaining universal access to free-to-air television.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has assessed the extent to which switching off digital terrestrial television could require households to take out broadband subscriptions in order to access television services.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has assessed the extent to which switching off digital terrestrial television could require households to take out broadband subscriptions in order to access television services.
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that television services remain affordable, reliable, and accessible to all households. The Government’s Future of TV Distribution project is undertaking work to assess the future of digital terrestrial television after 2034 and no decisions have been made at this time.
As part of the project, officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology are working closely together to consider the range of issues that could arise under different long‑term scenarios, including implications for how households access television and questions of affordability, reliability and accessibility.
Through commercial and subsidised delivery, the Government is ensuring future-proofed and reliable, gigabit-capable connections are available to 99% of UK premises, and are monitoring and supporting market development for alternative technologies to deliver reliable broadband to more remote premises.
My hon Friend the Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection (Kate Dearden MP) has today made the following statement.
Subscription contracts play an increasingly significant role in the lives of UK consumers. Across the economy, people rely on subscription services for everything from streaming and software to meal kits, fitness,...
My hon Friend the Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection (Kate Dearden MP) has today made the following statement.
Subscription contracts play an increasingly significant role in the lives of UK consumers. Across the economy, people rely on subscription services for everything from streaming and software to meal kits, fitness,...
Subscription contracts play an increasingly significant role in the lives of UK consumers. Across the economy, people rely on subscription services for everything from streaming and software to meal kits, fitness, and household essentials. There are an estimated 155 million active subscriptions in the UK, representing around £26 billion of...
Subscription contracts play an increasingly significant role in the lives of UK consumers. Across the economy, people rely on subscription services for everything from streaming and software to meal kits, fitness, and household essentials. There are an estimated 155 million active subscriptions in the UK, representing around £26 billion of...
Government response to the Consultation on the Implementation of the new Subscription Contracts Regime. 84p.
Government response to the Consultation on the Implementation of the new Subscription Contracts Regime. 84p.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Policy paper entitled Amplify: The Local Media Action Plan of 17 March 2026, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of a 14-day cooling-off period on the effectiveness of local and regional news...
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Policy paper entitled Amplify: The Local Media Action Plan of 17 March 2026, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of a 14-day cooling-off period on the effectiveness of local and regional news...
The government is committed to ensuring a healthy and plural local media for the benefit of communities and citizens across the UK. We have launched a Local Media Action Plan to help local newsrooms across the country innovate and adapt their business models for the online world, while incentivising and encouraging the production of high quality, trustworthy news.
We have consulted on how the subscriptions regime will be implemented and Ministers and officials have engaged with representatives from the news media sector. We are working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to reflect on the issues raised and a Government Response will be published in due course.
The impact assessment for the subscriptions chapter in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act can be found here: Subscription traps: annex 2 impact assessment. Together, the subscription measures are anticipated to provide £400m of consumer benefits per year and the estimated net direct cost to businesses is £171m per year.
Sector-specific analysis has not been conducted.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the answer to Question 110629 on 9 February, what assessment his Department has given to the potential merits of exempting charities from sections of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024 relating to the (a) subscription regime...
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the answer to Question 110629 on 9 February, what assessment his Department has given to the potential merits of exempting charities from sections of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024 relating to the (a) subscription regime...
The government has consulted on the implementation of the subscriptions regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. The consultation received over 70 responses including 15 from charitable organisations, and the government has engaged closely with the sector to understand the impacts on both consumers and these bodies.
The requirement for an initial 14 day cooling off period is an existing requirement under the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 for distance and off-premises contracts.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department plans to engage with stakeholders on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department plans to engage with stakeholders on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime.
This government is committed to protecting consumers who enter subscription contracts. We have consulted on the implementation of the new subscriptions regime (Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime - GOV.UK) which included meeting with interested stakeholders. After carefully analysing responses a full Government Response is to be published in due course.
We have engaged with consumer advocacy groups, enforcers and business representatives from across the economy and will continue to do so in advance of the regime’s commencement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to prevent subscription-based streaming services from being brought within the scope of the TV licence fee.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to prevent subscription-based streaming services from being brought within the scope of the TV licence fee.
A TV licence is currently required to watch live TV, and to watch or download any BBC programme on iPlayer. Households are therefore already required to hold a TV licence to watch live TV on a subscription-based streaming service.
The Government launched the BBC Charter Review last year. As part of the BBC Charter Review, we are looking at a range of options to support the BBC with sustainable and fair funding, including how the BBC can operate more efficiently, generate more commercial revenue, and how the licence fee could be reformed including the scope of services for which a TV licence is required.
The Government is now considering responses to the public consultation, and these will inform policy decisions for the next BBC Royal Charter. These will be set out in a White Paper, expected to be published later this year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of upcoming changes to the subscription contracts regime on local and regional news publishers and their ability to adopt digital first...
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of upcoming changes to the subscription contracts regime on local and regional news publishers and their ability to adopt digital first...
The Government is committed to ensuring a healthy and plural local media for the benefit of communities and citizens across the UK. We have launched a Local Media Action Plan to help local newsrooms across the country innovate and adapt their business models for the online world, while incentivising and encouraging the production of high quality, trustworthy news.
Local media already has a strong propensity to innovate and many local publishers are shifting towards digital subscription models in an effort to secure their financial sustainability. This is an understandable response to the financial pressures faced by the industry and a reflection of the significant costs involved in provision of high quality journalism.
The purpose of the subscriptions regime set out in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act is to protect consumers from being trapped in unwanted subscriptions. Government has consulted on how the regime will be implemented, and I have engaged alongside the Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection with representatives from the news media sector and other DCMS stakeholders on this consultation. More broadly, DCMS continues to work closely with the Department for Business and Trade to reflect on the issues raised during the consultation and a Government Response will be published in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department plans to respond to responses received on the Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department plans to respond to responses received on the Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act.
The government is committed to protecting consumers who enter into subscription contracts. We consulted on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act and have engaged closely with stakeholders. We are carefully considering the points raised and a government response will be published in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of the cooling-off period provision in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 on cultural, heritage and tourism organisations operating on a subscription model, including national museums and galleries.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of the cooling-off period provision in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 on cultural, heritage and tourism organisations operating on a subscription model, including national museums and galleries.
This government recognises the significant public value delivered by the UK’s charitable sector.
The government has consulted on the implementation of the subscriptions regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024. The consultation received over 70 responses including 15 from charitable organisations, and the government is engaging closely with the sector to understand the impacts on both consumers and these bodies.
The impact assessment for the subscriptions chapter in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act can be found here: Subscription traps: annex 2 impact assessment. Together, the subscription measures are anticipated to provide £400m of consumer benefits per year and the estimated net direct cost to businesses is £171m per year. Sector-specific analysis has not been conducted.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to take steps to tackle subscription traps.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to take steps to tackle subscription traps.
The government is committed to protecting consumers who enter into subscription contracts. We consulted on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act and have engaged closely with stakeholders. We are carefully considering the points raised and a government response will be published in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a specific exemption and tailored regime for charities under the subscription provisions in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a specific exemption and tailored regime for charities under the subscription provisions in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
This government recognises the significant public value delivered by the UK’s charitable sector.
We have consulted on the implementation of the subscriptions regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. The consultation received over 70 responses, including 15 from charitable organisations. The government is reflecting on their responses and engaging closely with the sector to understand the impacts on both consumers and these bodies.
We will provide guidance to support implementation of regulations ahead of commencement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department have made of the potential impacts of a 14-day cooling off period for all online subscriptions on the number of people that cancel their subscription after visiting a site run by a charity in a 14-day...
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department have made of the potential impacts of a 14-day cooling off period for all online subscriptions on the number of people that cancel their subscription after visiting a site run by a charity in a 14-day...
The requirement for a 14 day cooling off period for distance contracts is an existing requirement under the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013. The government has consulted on the implementation of the subscriptions regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024. The consultation received over 70 responses including 15 from charitable organisations, and the government is engaging closely with the sector to understand the impacts on both consumers and these bodies.
The impact assessment for the subscriptions chapter in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act can be found here: Subscription traps: annex 2 impact assessment. Together, the subscription measures are anticipated to provide £400m of consumer benefits per year and the estimated net direct cost to businesses is £171m per year. Sector-specific analysis has not been conducted.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
There were no transactions (subscription costs or otherwise) identified with LinkedIn as a supplier in the 2024/25 financial year.
The total subscription fees identified for the 2024/25 financial year was £832,046.14. This figure excludes membership of the World Health Organisation which is considered a subscription for accountancy purposes.
The response relates to the core department only and does not include information relating to the department’s arm’s-length bodies.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
The Home Office spent £98,800 on 13 LinkedIn Corporate Recruiter licences in 2024-25. There was further spend on other Recruitment services. The Home Office does not pay for LinkedIn membership services for individual members of staff.
By “other subscriptions” we are assuming that this is in relation to subscriptions to professional bodies. We do not hold readily available information on professional subscriptions as our financial systems do not have a specific marker for this type of expenditure. This level of detailed analysis could only be undertaken at disproportionate cost.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
The department does not hold information on LinkedIn membership fees and other subscriptions in the format requested, and this could only be collated at a disproportionate cost.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
For FY24/25, DSIT spent £159,000 on LinkedIn subscriptions and £1,221,168 on other subscriptions. DSIT uses its LinkedIn subscription to support with recruitment efforts including role advertisement and usage of LinkedIn Insights which supports with strategic workforce planning. With more than 44 million registered users in the UK as of January 2025, LinkedIn offers DSIT the ability to promote live vacancies to as many potential external candidates as possible. This is particularly important for DSIT’s critical digital and data vacancies, whereby it is estimated that more than half of our applicants come from outside of the civil service market.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
DCMS has spent £52,670.85 on Linkedin membership fees and £92,099 on other subscriptions in the financial year 24/25. Costs are exclusive of VAT.
These costs are used to maintain access to the widest possible applicant base for job roles in the department, to increase visibility of the department’s employer brand, and to reach a diverse range of potential applicants.
Motion that this House has considered Government support for membership-based charity organisations. Agreed to on question. Sitting adjourned without Question put.
Motion that this House has considered Government support for membership-based charity organisations. Agreed to on question. Sitting adjourned without Question put.
I beg to move,
That this House has considered Government support for membership-based charity organisations.
It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg.
Membership organisations play a central role in protecting and enhancing the things that we consider important to our national character. The great British countryside is maintained...
I beg to move,
That this House has considered Government support for membership-based charity organisations.
It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg.
Membership organisations play a central role in protecting and enhancing the things that we consider important to our national character. The great British countryside is maintained...
The hon. Member mentioned the National Trust and preserving our national heritage. West Dorset’s most famous feature is the Cerne Abbas giant. The National Trust, which looks after it, has just launched a fundraiser to raise £330,000 to buy the land around the Cerne Abbas giant to improve access. Does...
The hon. Member mentioned the National Trust and preserving our national heritage. West Dorset’s most famous feature is the Cerne Abbas giant. The National Trust, which looks after it, has just launched a fundraiser to raise £330,000 to buy the land around the Cerne Abbas giant to improve access. Does...
The hon. Gentleman has done beautifully to put that on the record. He is absolutely right that these incredible membership charities preserve our national heritage.
If we were to ask people why they support such charities, I expect they would not say that they do so just to get access to...
The hon. Gentleman has done beautifully to put that on the record. He is absolutely right that these incredible membership charities preserve our national heritage.
If we were to ask people why they support such charities, I expect they would not say that they do so just to get access to...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Twigg, for the third time this afternoon—I enjoy your company so much. You are kind and patient as a Chair—thank you very much.
I congratulate the hon. Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline Dinenage) on securing us the opportunity to sow into...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Twigg, for the third time this afternoon—I enjoy your company so much. You are kind and patient as a Chair—thank you very much.
I congratulate the hon. Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline Dinenage) on securing us the opportunity to sow into...
I thank the hon. Member for allowing me to intervene. I wonder if the Minister would consider the following. I was the vice-president of the National Trust for Scotland for the majority of 10 years and I know the senior management there very well. They have been extremely hurt by...
I thank the hon. Member for allowing me to intervene. I wonder if the Minister would consider the following. I was the vice-president of the National Trust for Scotland for the majority of 10 years and I know the senior management there very well. They have been extremely hurt by...
Yes—sorry. Does the hon. Member agree that when the Government introduce legislation on, for example, national insurance and people doing part-time work, and now this gift aid issue, they should consider charities as separate organisations?
Yes—sorry. Does the hon. Member agree that when the Government introduce legislation on, for example, national insurance and people doing part-time work, and now this gift aid issue, they should consider charities as separate organisations?
I thank the hon. Member for his intervention. The knowledge that he has developed over the years is an important addition to this debate. I know that the Minister is listening when we make our asks, as the hon. Member for Gosport has done and as I will do now.
The...
I thank the hon. Member for his intervention. The knowledge that he has developed over the years is an important addition to this debate. I know that the Minister is listening when we make our asks, as the hon. Member for Gosport has done and as I will do now.
The...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg, and I congratulate the hon. Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline Dinenage) on securing this important debate. It is also a pleasure to serve with her on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
I begin by paying tribute to some of...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg, and I congratulate the hon. Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline Dinenage) on securing this important debate. It is also a pleasure to serve with her on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
I begin by paying tribute to some of...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg. It is also a pleasure to take part in this important debate on Government support for membership-based charity organisation. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline Dinenage) for securing such an important debate and for...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg. It is also a pleasure to take part in this important debate on Government support for membership-based charity organisation. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline Dinenage) for securing such an important debate and for...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg, and I am glad to respond to this debate. I begin by congratulating the hon. Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline Dinenage) on securing this important debate. The hon. Lady’s support for membership-based charities is evident from her speech and...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg, and I am glad to respond to this debate. I begin by congratulating the hon. Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline Dinenage) on securing this important debate. The hon. Lady’s support for membership-based charities is evident from her speech and...
I am grateful to the Minister for her response. I am also grateful to her for advocating on my behalf, and on behalf of membership charities, with the Department for Business and Trade on the issue, which we have been wrestling with today, of trying to get clarity about the...
I am grateful to the Minister for her response. I am also grateful to her for advocating on my behalf, and on behalf of membership charities, with the Department for Business and Trade on the issue, which we have been wrestling with today, of trying to get clarity about the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
The Department’s total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees for the last financial year was nil and (ii) other similar membership subscriptions was nil.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
During the period of 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the department spent £0.00 on LinkedIn membership fees.
During the same period, the department and its executive agencies spent £274,988.24 on services that fit the broad description of ‘subscription’.
Letter dated 15/12/2025 from Lord Leong to Peers regarding a correction to two statements relating to savings for consumers and charities claiming gift aid, made during the Oral Question on Subscription Contracts: Right to Cancel. 1p.
Letter dated 15/12/2025 from Lord Leong to Peers regarding a correction to two statements relating to savings for consumers and charities claiming gift aid, made during the Oral Question on Subscription Contracts: Right to Cancel. 1p.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
The total expenditure by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) on (i) LinkedIn membership fees and (ii) other subscriptions for the financial year 2024/2025 was as follows:
Category | Total Expenditure (£) |
(i) LinkedIn membership fees | £0.00 (Nil Return) |
(ii) Other subscriptions (Media) | £5,939.52 |
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
The Ministry of Justice does not hold a specific membership with LinkedIn. However, our spend on LinkedIn for the financial year 2024/2025 was £155,247.65.
Please note this cost covers multiple recruitment services and advertising that span across all our operationally critical frontline roles. For example, those in HMPPS and HMCTS. All our campaign activity is data driven to maximise our reach to our target audiences.
The Department’s spend for other subscriptions in 2024/2025 is £628,213.00. These subscriptions/memberships cover things such as The Solicitors Regulation Authority, The Bar Council, and the Office for National Statistics and ensure we are able to operate compliantly and effectively.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
We are unable to provide details on the total spend on LinkedIn membership fees and other subscriptions by the Department for Business and Trade in the last financial year. The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
In line with other large employers, The Cabinet Office utilises LinkedIn subscriptions for business purposes including recruitment across government and managing the wider Civil Service talent pipeline.
It is not possible to provide a definitive figure for subscriptions for the last financial year (and to do so would incur disproportionate costs.) Heads of Business Units review all subscriptions and other internal expenditure to ensure value for tax payer money.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
This information is not held centrally for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
To ask the Solicitor General, for the total spend on (a) LinkedIn membership fees and (b) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Solicitor General, for the total spend on (a) LinkedIn membership fees and (b) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
The department has no spend on LinkedIn membership fees, and has a total spend in 2024/25 of £4,322.00 on other subscriptions.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
Due to the way this information is stored in our systems, it would be difficult and incur disproportionate costs to extract subscriptions to LinkedIn and other social media platforms.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
In the last financial year, the Office spent no money on LinkedIn membership fees and £3,332.48 on other subscriptions.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by his Department in the last financial year.
The Scotland Office and its associated arm’s length bodies have spent £0 on LinkedIn membership fees and £797 on other subscriptions in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for the total spend on (i) LinkedIn membership fees (ii) other subscriptions by her Department in the last financial year.
The requested information is not centrally collated by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. All spending is subject to standard value for money assessments.
My Lords, the Government have consulted on how the new subscription rules will work under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act—this includes what happens when a consumer uses their cooling-off right to cancel—and are carefully reviewing responses from cultural and heritage organisations. My officials have engaged directly with sector representatives and will continue to do so to ensure that the final regulations reflect their concerns and support both consumer protection and organisational sustainability.
My Lords, the Government have consulted on how the new subscription rules will work under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act—this includes what happens when a consumer uses their cooling-off right to cancel—and are carefully reviewing responses from cultural and heritage organisations. My officials have engaged directly with sector representatives and will continue to do so to ensure that the final regulations reflect their concerns and support both consumer protection and organisational sustainability.
To ask His Majesty’s Government, in making regulations under section 267 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, what plans they have to account for concerns raised by cultural and heritage organisations regarding the right of consumers to cancel subscription contracts.
My Lords, I have had a number of exchanges with the Minister, for which I am very grateful. In considering next steps, will he take into account the worries expressed by charities, and arts and heritage organisations, about the inevitable decimation of their fundraising efforts? Would he agree that introducing the cooling-off period set out in the recently enacted DMCCA immediately on signing up would
allow thousands of people to join, say, art galleries, take advantage of the membership benefits of reduced admission fees to exhibitions over, say, a weekend’s holiday in London, and then legally cancel their memberships under the cooling-off period set out in the new Act, which will cripple membership schemes as a fundraising model that are currently worth hundreds of millions of pounds to charities across the UK every year? Will the Government accelerate their consideration to exempt our charities, museums, galleries and national heritage homes, just as they have exempted gambling contracts and society lotteries under Schedule 22 in order to protect their fundraising efforts?
My Lords, I have had a number of exchanges with the Minister, for which I am very grateful. In considering next steps, will he take into account the worries expressed by charities, and arts and heritage organisations, about the inevitable decimation of their fundraising efforts? Would he agree that introducing the cooling-off period set out in the recently enacted DMCCA immediately on signing up would
allow thousands of people to join, say, art galleries, take advantage of the membership benefits of reduced admission fees to exhibitions over, say, a weekend’s holiday in London, and then legally cancel their memberships under the cooling-off period set out in the new Act, which will cripple membership schemes as a fundraising model that are currently worth hundreds of millions of pounds to charities across the UK every year? Will the Government accelerate their consideration to exempt our charities, museums, galleries and national heritage homes, just as they have exempted gambling contracts and society lotteries under Schedule 22 in order to protect their fundraising efforts?
The noble Lord will know that, under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, consumers already have a cooling-off period for distance contracts, so this is not new for the sector. The digital content waiver is long established, and most charitable memberships are service contracts, not digital content. We consulted on extending the waiver, as that would reduce consumer rights. Having said that, gambling is excluded due to the existing specialist regulations. We recognise the concerns raised by charities and heritage organisations about potential misuse and will continue to work closely with charities as we finalise the secondary legislation.
The noble Lord will know that, under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, consumers already have a cooling-off period for distance contracts, so this is not new for the sector. The digital content waiver is long established, and most charitable memberships are service contracts, not digital content. We consulted on extending the waiver, as that would reduce consumer rights. Having said that, gambling is excluded due to the existing specialist regulations. We recognise the concerns raised by charities and heritage organisations about potential misuse and will continue to work closely with charities as we finalise the secondary legislation.
The noble Lord will know that, under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, consumers already have a cooling-off period for distance contracts, so this is not new for the sector. The digital content waiver is long established, and most charitable memberships are service contracts, not digital content. We consulted on extending the waiver, as that would reduce consumer rights. Having said that, gambling is excluded due to the existing specialist regulations. We recognise the concerns raised by charities and heritage organisations about potential misuse and will continue to work closely with charities as we finalise the secondary legislation.
My Lords, I have had a number of exchanges with the Minister, for which I am very grateful. In considering next steps, will he take into account the worries expressed by charities, and arts and heritage organisations, about the inevitable decimation of their fundraising efforts? Would he agree that introducing the cooling-off period set out in the recently enacted DMCCA immediately on signing up would
allow thousands of people to join, say, art galleries, take advantage of the membership benefits of reduced admission fees to exhibitions over, say, a weekend’s holiday in London, and then legally cancel their memberships under the cooling-off period set out in the new Act, which will cripple membership schemes as a fundraising model that are currently worth hundreds of millions of pounds to charities across the UK every year? Will the Government accelerate their consideration to exempt our charities, museums, galleries and national heritage homes, just as they have exempted gambling contracts and society lotteries under Schedule 22 in order to protect their fundraising efforts?
My Lords, Section 267 gives the Government the clear ability to use the regulation-making powers to recognise the specific circumstances of particular services, such as streaming, charitable memberships and, of course, the news media. Do the Government intend to make distinctions between those sectors? If so, will the Government make sure that streaming services, the charitable sector and, indeed, the news media are protected from early termination?
My Lords, Section 267 gives the Government the clear ability to use the regulation-making powers to recognise the specific circumstances of particular services, such as streaming, charitable memberships and, of course, the news media. Do the Government intend to make distinctions between those sectors? If so, will the Government make sure that streaming services, the charitable sector and, indeed, the news media are protected from early termination?
The noble Lord makes an interesting point. Let us look at the policy. We are talking about unwanted subscriptions, which account for some £1.6 billion a year. This Act will save consumers some £14 a month, which is about £147 million a year. As it stands, charities have to comply with consumer law irrespective of charitable status. Companies, especially digital service organisations, have the legislation that is currently in place, so that will stay as it is. The cooling-off period under the new Act is just an extension from distance contracts to in person.
My Lords, how do the Government account for the concerns of privately owned heritage? The majority of members of Historic Houses, for example, are neither charities nor large heritage organisations, yet they are wholly dependent on subscriptions and membership for the preservation of our nationally significant heritage. I note my interest as a member of Historic Houses.
My Lords, how do the Government account for the concerns of privately owned heritage? The majority of members of Historic Houses, for example, are neither charities nor large heritage organisations, yet they are wholly dependent on subscriptions and membership for the preservation of our nationally significant heritage. I note my interest as a member of Historic Houses.
I thank the noble Earl for that. As far as heritage organisations are concerned, it is up to the individual organisation how its business model is structured. If it is a subscription model for contracts or services then it falls in scope of this legislation and the cooling-off period will apply.
I thank the noble Earl for that. As far as heritage organisations are concerned, it is up to the individual organisation how its business model is structured. If it is a subscription model for contracts or services then it falls in scope of this legislation and the cooling-off period will apply.
I thank the noble Earl for that. As far as heritage organisations are concerned, it is up to the individual organisation how its business model is structured. If it is a subscription model for contracts or services then it falls in scope of this legislation and the cooling-off period will apply.
My Lords, how do the Government account for the concerns of privately owned heritage? The majority of members of Historic Houses, for example, are neither charities nor large heritage organisations, yet they are wholly dependent on subscriptions and membership for the preservation of our nationally significant heritage. I note my interest as a member of Historic Houses.
My Lords, I support my noble friend in his Question and welcome the tone of the Minister’s thoughtful reply. As a proud member of the British Museum scheme, I think there is a loophole and an unintended consequence of the good intention of the Act, which needs support. I assure the Minister that he will have widespread support in this House if he can find a way through this problem.
My Lords, I support my noble friend in his Question and welcome the tone of the Minister’s thoughtful reply. As a proud member of the British Museum scheme, I think there is a loophole and an unintended consequence of the good intention of the Act, which needs support. I assure the Minister that he will have widespread support in this House if he can find a way through this problem.
I thank the noble Lord for that. This is precisely why the Government are taking their time. We have consulted widely—the consultation finished at the end of February—and we are analysing the responses. There are various complexities. It also impacts on HMRC, as far as gift aid is concerned. We must ensure that we get this absolutely right, and we will make a decision in due course.
I thank the noble Lord for that. This is precisely why the Government are taking their time. We have consulted widely—the consultation finished at the end of February—and we are analysing the responses. There are various complexities. It also impacts on HMRC, as far as gift aid is concerned. We must ensure that we get this absolutely right, and we will make a decision in due course.
I thank the noble Lord for that. This is precisely why the Government are taking their time. We have consulted widely—the consultation finished at the end of February—and we are analysing the responses. There are various complexities. It also impacts on HMRC, as far as gift aid is concerned. We must ensure that we get this absolutely right, and we will make a decision in due course.
My Lords, I support my noble friend in his Question and welcome the tone of the Minister’s thoughtful reply. As a proud member of the British Museum scheme, I think there is a loophole and an unintended consequence of the good intention of the Act, which needs support. I assure the Minister that he will have widespread support in this House if he can find a way through this problem.
My Lords, while we are on this subject, is it not the case that our regulators and our consumer rights are letting Britain down, and that we are in what we call rip-off Britain? Do we not need to look at regulation and consumer rights as a whole and come forward with a package to address the problems?
My Lords, while we are on this subject, is it not the case that our regulators and our consumer rights are letting Britain down, and that we are in what we call rip-off Britain? Do we not need to look at regulation and consumer rights as a whole and come forward with a package to address the problems?
My noble friend is absolutely right. As it stands, all consumers are protected under the consumer contracts regulations, which basically allow consumers to have that cooling-off period if they subscribe to a service online. The Act extends that to subscription in person so that consumers will be protected under this legislation.
My noble friend is absolutely right. As it stands, all consumers are protected under the consumer contracts regulations, which basically allow consumers to have that cooling-off period if they subscribe to a service online. The Act extends that to subscription in person so that consumers will be protected under this legislation.
My noble friend is absolutely right. As it stands, all consumers are protected under the consumer contracts regulations, which basically allow consumers to have that cooling-off period if they subscribe to a service online. The Act extends that to subscription in person so that consumers will be protected under this legislation.
My Lords, while we are on this subject, is it not the case that our regulators and our consumer rights are letting Britain down, and that we are in what we call rip-off Britain? Do we not need to look at regulation and consumer rights as a whole and come forward with a package to address the problems?
My Lords, I declare an interest as a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery. This issue is particularly important as last week’s Red Book shows that the DCMS’s budget is going to fall in the latter part of this decade. This means that public institutions will be under greater financial pressure. The last thing they need, therefore, is an issue of this kind. I offer my support to my noble friend and urge the Minister to do everything he can to get rid of this anomaly.
My Lords, I declare an interest as a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery. This issue is particularly important as last week’s Red Book shows that the DCMS’s budget is going to fall in the latter part of this decade. This means that public institutions will be under greater financial pressure. The last thing they need, therefore, is an issue of this kind. I offer my support to my noble friend and urge the Minister to do everything he can to get rid of this anomaly.
I thank the noble Lord for that. It is precisely what we are doing. We are taking our time to consider the consultation and we are analysing the responses. We must get this right. As I said, charities have to comply with current consumer protection regulations. As it stands, most charities, perhaps because they do not understand the implications of the Act, have been claiming gift aid, even though their membership may be for a provision of services. We need to ensure that HMRC and the DCMS work through the technicalities so that we are not caught in the loophole that the noble Lord mentioned.
Is the Minister actually asking for reluctant subscribers to stay with a service just because it is a charity? I find that really difficult to understand. We have to think of that person who goes in, looks at something, says, “I don’t really want to be a part of this”, and chooses to leave. They should have a right to do that.
Is the Minister actually asking for reluctant subscribers to stay with a service just because it is a charity? I find that really difficult to understand. We have to think of that person who goes in, looks at something, says, “I don’t really want to be a part of this”, and chooses to leave. They should have a right to do that.
Every consumer has a right to do that under current consumer protections. They have a cooling-off period of 14 days to cancel that subscription
if it is a distance subscription. Under the new Act, if the subscription is taken up or renewed in person, the cooling-off period is extended to 14 days, so consumers will have the right to cancel or stay within the subscription.
Every consumer has a right to do that under current consumer protections. They have a cooling-off period of 14 days to cancel that subscription
if it is a distance subscription. Under the new Act, if the subscription is taken up or renewed in person, the cooling-off period is extended to 14 days, so consumers will have the right to cancel or stay within the subscription.
Every consumer has a right to do that under current consumer protections. They have a cooling-off period of 14 days to cancel that subscription
if it is a distance subscription. Under the new Act, if the subscription is taken up or renewed in person, the cooling-off period is extended to 14 days, so consumers will have the right to cancel or stay within the subscription.
Is the Minister actually asking for reluctant subscribers to stay with a service just because it is a charity? I find that really difficult to understand. We have to think of that person who goes in, looks at something, says, “I don’t really want to be a part of this”, and chooses to leave. They should have a right to do that.
My Lords, the problem has been well set out by my noble friend Lord Moynihan and repeated admirably by the Minister. It is a problem that was identified when this Act was going through your Lordships’ House. At the time, my noble friend Lord Offord of Garvel committed to closing this loophole through secondary legislation. Of course, the election interceded, but that is now a year and a half ago. As we have heard, this is a pressing issue for organisations that are beset by cuts to the DCMS budget, the rising impact of national insurance contributions and much more. Will the Minister commit to working urgently to make sure that this loophole is not open in a way that will affect so many arts, cultural and heritage organisations that are loved across the country?
My Lords, the problem has been well set out by my noble friend Lord Moynihan and repeated admirably by the Minister. It is a problem that was identified when this Act was going through your Lordships’ House. At the time, my noble friend Lord Offord of Garvel committed to closing this loophole through secondary legislation. Of course, the election interceded, but that is now a year and a half ago. As we have heard, this is a pressing issue for organisations that are beset by cuts to the DCMS budget, the rising impact of national insurance contributions and much more. Will the Minister commit to working urgently to make sure that this loophole is not open in a way that will affect so many arts, cultural and heritage organisations that are loved across the country?
I thank the noble Lord for that. I assure him that my officials and I are working to ensure that we get this right. The new subscription regime will ensure that in particular situations, including after the contract automatically renews on to a 12-month term, consumers have a 14-day window in which to cancel. Should any changes be needed in secondary legislation that we publish, they will not commence until autumn 2026, so there is plenty of time for charities and heritage organisations to put their houses in order before this regime kicks in.
I thank the noble Lord for that. I assure him that my officials and I are working to ensure that we get this right. The new subscription regime will ensure that in particular situations, including after the contract automatically renews on to a 12-month term, consumers have a 14-day window in which to cancel. Should any changes be needed in secondary legislation that we publish, they will not commence until autumn 2026, so there is plenty of time for charities and heritage organisations to put their houses in order before this regime kicks in.
I thank the noble Lord for that. I assure him that my officials and I are working to ensure that we get this right. The new subscription regime will ensure that in particular situations, including after the contract automatically renews on to a 12-month term, consumers have a 14-day window in which to cancel. Should any changes be needed in secondary legislation that we publish, they will not commence until autumn 2026, so there is plenty of time for charities and heritage organisations to put their houses in order before this regime kicks in.
My Lords, the problem has been well set out by my noble friend Lord Moynihan and repeated admirably by the Minister. It is a problem that was identified when this Act was going through your Lordships’ House. At the time, my noble friend Lord Offord of Garvel committed to closing this loophole through secondary legislation. Of course, the election interceded, but that is now a year and a half ago. As we have heard, this is a pressing issue for organisations that are beset by cuts to the DCMS budget, the rising impact of national insurance contributions and much more. Will the Minister commit to working urgently to make sure that this loophole is not open in a way that will affect so many arts, cultural and heritage organisations that are loved across the country?
May I offer the Minister an opportunity to be popular by moving the regulations on online subscriptions further, so that all those who are subject to automatic renewals do not have to click more than twice in order to end a subscription that they do not want to retain?
May I offer the Minister an opportunity to be popular by moving the regulations on online subscriptions further, so that all those who are subject to automatic renewals do not have to click more than twice in order to end a subscription that they do not want to retain?
I thank the noble Lord for that kind suggestion. I am sure my officials, who are sitting in the Box, have heard it.
I thank the noble Lord for that kind suggestion. I am sure my officials, who are sitting in the Box, have heard it.
I thank the noble Lord for that kind suggestion. I am sure my officials, who are sitting in the Box, have heard it.
May I offer the Minister an opportunity to be popular by moving the regulations on online subscriptions further, so that all those who are subject to automatic renewals do not have to click more than twice in order to end a subscription that they do not want to retain?
To ask His Majesty’s Government, in making regulations under section 267 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, what plans they have to account for concerns raised by cultural and heritage organisations regarding the right of consumers to cancel subscription contracts.
To ask His Majesty’s Government, in making regulations under section 267 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, what plans they have to account for concerns raised by cultural and heritage organisations regarding the right of consumers to cancel subscription contracts.
My Lords, the Government have consulted on how the new subscription rules will work under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act—this includes what happens when a consumer uses their cooling-off right to cancel—and are carefully reviewing responses from cultural and heritage organisations. My officials have engaged directly with sector representatives and will continue to do so to ensure that the final regulations reflect their concerns and support both consumer protection and organisational sustainability.
I thank the noble Lord for that. It is precisely what we are doing. We are taking our time to consider the consultation and we are analysing the responses. We must get this right. As I said, charities have to comply with current consumer protection regulations. As it stands, most charities, perhaps because they do not understand the implications of the Act, have been claiming gift aid, even though their membership may be for a provision of services. We need to ensure that HMRC and the DCMS work through the technicalities so that we are not caught in the loophole that the noble Lord mentioned.
I thank the noble Lord for that. It is precisely what we are doing. We are taking our time to consider the consultation and we are analysing the responses. We must get this right. As I said, charities have to comply with current consumer protection regulations. As it stands, most charities, perhaps because they do not understand the implications of the Act, have been claiming gift aid, even though their membership may be for a provision of services. We need to ensure that HMRC and the DCMS work through the technicalities so that we are not caught in the loophole that the noble Lord mentioned.
My Lords, I declare an interest as a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery. This issue is particularly important as last week’s Red Book shows that the DCMS’s budget is going to fall in the latter part of this decade. This means that public institutions will be under greater financial pressure. The last thing they need, therefore, is an issue of this kind. I offer my support to my noble friend and urge the Minister to do everything he can to get rid of this anomaly.
The noble Lord makes an interesting point. Let us look at the policy. We are talking about unwanted subscriptions, which account for some £1.6 billion a year. This Act will save consumers some £14 a month, which is about £147 million a year. As it stands, charities have to comply with consumer law irrespective of charitable status. Companies, especially digital service organisations, have the legislation that is currently in place, so that will stay as it is. The cooling-off period under the new Act is just an extension from distance contracts to in person.
The noble Lord makes an interesting point. Let us look at the policy. We are talking about unwanted subscriptions, which account for some £1.6 billion a year. This Act will save consumers some £14 a month, which is about £147 million a year. As it stands, charities have to comply with consumer law irrespective of charitable status. Companies, especially digital service organisations, have the legislation that is currently in place, so that will stay as it is. The cooling-off period under the new Act is just an extension from distance contracts to in person.
My Lords, Section 267 gives the Government the clear ability to use the regulation-making powers to recognise the specific circumstances of particular services, such as streaming, charitable memberships and, of course, the news media. Do the Government intend to make distinctions between those sectors? If so, will the Government make sure that streaming services, the charitable sector and, indeed, the news media are protected from early termination?
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the representations they have received from heritage and arts organisations regarding the impact of the "two-week cooling-off period" for charity memberships provided for by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the representations they have received from heritage and arts organisations regarding the impact of the "two-week cooling-off period" for charity memberships provided for by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
The government has consulted on the implementation of the new subscriptions contract regime, including how the cooling off period operates. We are analysing the responses, including submissions from arts and heritage organisations who offer subscription memberships. Officials have also met with representatives and individual organisations in the arts and heritage sector to hear their views.
The impact assessment for subscriptions chapter in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act can be found here: Subscription traps: annex 2 impact assessment. Together the subscription measures are anticipated to provide £400m of consumer benefits per year and the estimated net cost to businesses is £171m per year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take legislative steps to exclude charity subscriptions from the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take legislative steps to exclude charity subscriptions from the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
The government consulted on the implementation of the new subscriptions contract regime and are analysing the responses, including submissions from the charity and not-for profit sector. Officials have met with relevant representatives and individual organisations to hear their views and we continue to engage with the sector.
The government is committed to ensuring that charities can comply with consumer law and claim Gift Aid on eligible payments. HMRC are working through the technical details and will continue to engage with the sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take legislative steps to provide for an excluded contract waiver for charitable memberships in proposed secondary legislation on subscription contracts under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 to protect not-for-profit organisations from (a) undue administrative...
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take legislative steps to provide for an excluded contract waiver for charitable memberships in proposed secondary legislation on subscription contracts under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 to protect not-for-profit organisations from (a) undue administrative...
The government consulted on the implementation of the new subscriptions contract regime and are analysing the responses, including submissions from the charity and not-for profit sector. Officials have met with relevant representatives and individual organisations to hear their views and we continue to engage with the sector.
The government is committed to ensuring that charities can comply with consumer law and claim Gift Aid on eligible payments. HMRC are working through the technical details and will continue to engage with the sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of section 267 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 on platform fees for digital subscriptions.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of section 267 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 on platform fees for digital subscriptions.
The Government has consulted on how refunds should work when consumers exercise their statutory cooling-off rights (Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime). We are analysing all the responses, including in relation to digital platform fees and views from the printed news sector.
The impact assessment for the subscriptions chapter in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act can be found here: Subscription traps: annex 2 impact assessment. Together the subscription measures are anticipated to provide £400m of consumer benefits per year and the estimated net direct cost to businesses is £171m per year. Sector-specific analysis has not been conducted.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the application of consumer law to charitable membership subscriptions under the Digital Markets, Consumer and Competition Act 2024 on the finances of those organisations.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the application of consumer law to charitable membership subscriptions under the Digital Markets, Consumer and Competition Act 2024 on the finances of those organisations.
Charities are not excluded from existing core consumer law on the basis of their charitable status. The government is engaging closely with the sector in relation to the subscriptions regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024.
The impact assessment for the subscriptions chapter in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act can be found here: Subscription traps: annex 2 impact assessment. Together the subscription measures are anticipated to provide £400m of consumer benefits per year and the estimated net direct cost to businesses is £171m per year. Sector-specific analysis has not been conducted.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing exemptions to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (2024) to enable people who pay for charity subscriptions to continue to claim gift aid on membership subscriptions.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing exemptions to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (2024) to enable people who pay for charity subscriptions to continue to claim gift aid on membership subscriptions.
The government understands the vital role that Gift Aid income provides for charities. The government intends that charities will be able to comply with both the consumer protections in the subscription chapter of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 and, where eligible, continue to claim Gift Aid. HM Revenue and Customs are working through the technical details and will continue to engage with the charity sector as this work progresses. Individuals, where eligible, will also be able to continue to complete Gift Aid declarations.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department plans to respond to the consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department plans to respond to the consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime.
The government is committed to protecting consumers who enter subscription contracts. Chapter 2, Part 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 sets out a new regime for subscriptions contracts. Secondary legislation is required to implement it and the government ran a 12-week consultation on regulatory proposals (Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime - GOV.UK). We are analysing the responses and carefully considering the points raised. A government response will be published in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans he has to meet with representatives of (a) museums and (b) galleries to discuss the potential impact of proposals for the implementation of a new subscription contracts regime on those organisations.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans he has to meet with representatives of (a) museums and (b) galleries to discuss the potential impact of proposals for the implementation of a new subscription contracts regime on those organisations.
My department has regularly engaged with representatives from museums and galleries during the consultation on the implementation of the subscription regime (Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime - GOV.UK). We are carefully considering the points they have raised about the impact of the proposals and will continue to engage closely with the sector.
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain. It has been a while since you chaired Westminster Hall; it is always a pleasure to see you and I wish you well. I thank the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Matt Western) for leading the debate;...
It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain. It has been a while since you chaired Westminster Hall; it is always a pleasure to see you and I wish you well. I thank the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Matt Western) for leading the debate;...
I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Matt Western) on securing this important debate. I extend my congratulations to my hon. Friend the Member for East Renfrewshire (Blair McDougall) on his elevation to His Majesty’s Government. It is an honour and a privilege to be a...
I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Matt Western) on securing this important debate. I extend my congratulations to my hon. Friend the Member for East Renfrewshire (Blair McDougall) on his elevation to His Majesty’s Government. It is an honour and a privilege to be a...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dame Siobhain. I congratulate the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Matt Western) on securing this important debate. What we have heard from hon. Members has been extremely wide-ranging. I will focus the vast majority of my speech on ticket touting...
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dame Siobhain. I congratulate the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Matt Western) on securing this important debate. What we have heard from hon. Members has been extremely wide-ranging. I will focus the vast majority of my speech on ticket touting...
It is a pleasure to speak for the Opposition in this interesting debate; I congratulate the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Matt Western) on securing it. I add my congratulations to the hon. Member for East Renfrewshire (Blair McDougall) on his appointment. I look forward to potentially confronting him,...
It is a pleasure to speak for the Opposition in this interesting debate; I congratulate the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Matt Western) on securing it. I add my congratulations to the hon. Member for East Renfrewshire (Blair McDougall) on his appointment. I look forward to potentially confronting him,...
It is a pleasure to serve in my first debate as a Minister under your chairship, Dame Siobhain. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Matt Western) on securing this debate. I would have felt cheated had the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) not been...
It is a pleasure to serve in my first debate as a Minister under your chairship, Dame Siobhain. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Matt Western) on securing this debate. I would have felt cheated had the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) not been...
I should have congratulated my hon. Friend at the very beginning on his appointment—a very warm welcome, Minister, to the role. He talks about dynamic pricing and ticketing. He will probably be aware that in the Business and Trade Committee we looked at Ticketmaster and Live Nation. The Opposition spokesperson,...
I should have congratulated my hon. Friend at the very beginning on his appointment—a very warm welcome, Minister, to the role. He talks about dynamic pricing and ticketing. He will probably be aware that in the Business and Trade Committee we looked at Ticketmaster and Live Nation. The Opposition spokesperson,...