The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has regular discussions with Nominet to discuss a range of issues connected with the .uk top level domain name registry, their work to protect essential public services, cyber security, crime prevention and other functions. As the operator of the .uk registry, Nominet is providing an essential service that must satisfy security requirements under the Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018. Other functions are managed as a private company with a public purpose objective and any changes to the way in which the registry is managed is done so through a multi-stakeholder approach, which have not been subject to a departmental assessment.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has regular discussions with Nominet to discuss a range of issues connected with the .uk top level domain name registry, their work to protect essential public services, cyber security, crime prevention and other functions. As the operator of the .uk registry, Nominet is providing an essential service that must satisfy security requirements under the Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018. Other functions are managed as a private company with a public purpose objective and any changes to the way in which the registry is managed is done so through a multi-stakeholder approach, which have not been subject to a departmental assessment.

I have made no assessment of the effect of the launch of .uk domain names on the competitiveness of the domain registration market. However, the UK has one of the most competitive domain name markets in the world, with over 10m domain names on the .uk registry, making it the 6th largest registry. The wholesale price for domain names in the UK is less than those for .com or .net domain names and some 2700 domain name registries compete in the retail market for .uk domains, bringing significant benefits for consumers. Since the launch of .uk Second Level Domain Names, over 50,000 .uk second level domains were registered on the first day and over 100,000 after the first month.

Nominet was created as an initiative of the UK internet services community in 1996, in order to manage the rapidly increasing demand for domain names and ensure a single inter-operable network of addresses would continue to evolve. Prior to this, all requests for .uk domain names were approved by a Naming Committee established by the UK Education and Research Networking Association (UKERNA). The Government recognises Nominet’s continuing role in managing the .uk registry on a not-for-profit basis consistent with the multi-stakeholder model for internet governance that the Government supports.

Nominet is a private not-for-profit business with a public purpose agenda, and any surplus generated by the company is donated to the Nominet Trust. While Nominet is responsible for the domain name registration process in the .uk space, UK internet users are able to choose from over 20 alternative Top Level Domain names including com, .net, .eu, and .org, as well as .uk and over 250 other country codes. Additionally, users will soon be able to choose from over 1,400 generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) names as a result of ICANN's gTLD programme. This provides a highly competitive market, offering businesses, and individuals, choice.

[holding answer 25 February 2013]: Nominet is recognised by the Government as the registry with responsibility for oversight of the .co.uk top level internet domain. It is a private sector, not for profit, public purpose company. Nominet's day-to-day operations are not subject to regulation by Government.

Nominet has informed Government of the actions it has undertaken to raise awareness of its consultation process. These include coverage through news articles and other media, hosting a series of public roundtable events and working with member's organisations, for example the British Computer Society, to provide news stories, guest articles and briefings for their members.