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Consultation outcome

Expanding the information sharing powers in Part 5 (chapter one) of the Digital Economy Act 2017 to support passported benefits and reduce fuel poverty

From:
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Published
29 July 2025
Last updated
3 July 2026 — See all updates

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Information sharing for public service delivery: government response

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Annex A: The Digital Government (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2026

PDF, 154 KB, 3 pages

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Explanatory memorandum to the Digital Government (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2026

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Explanatory Memorandum to the Digital Goverment (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2026

PDF, 321 KB, 7 pages

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Detail of outcome

The consultation set out proposals to change the powers in the Digital Economy Act 2017 to allow information sharing for 2 purposes:

  • to help deliver passported benefits, such as free school meals (Part 1)
  • to help people and households with energy debt through a new Debt Relief Scheme (Part 2)

This government response only covers Part 2. The response to Part 1 will be published later in the year, once further consideration has taken place.

Original consultation

Summary

Expanding the information sharing powers in Part 5 (chapter one) of the Digital Economy Act 2017 to support passported benefits and reduce fuel poverty.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

This consultation set out proposals to change the powers in the Digital Economy Act 2017 (DEA) to allow information sharing to:

  • support the delivery of passported benefits (such as free school meals)
  • provide support to individuals and households with energy debt through the introduction of an energy Debt Relief Scheme

Documents

Information sharing for public service delivery: expanding the information sharing powers in Part 5 (chapter one) of the Digital Economy Act 2017 to support passported benefits and reduce fuel poverty

HTML

Rhannu gwybodaeth i gyflenwi gwasanaethau cyhoeddus Ehangu’r pwerau rhannu gwybodaeth yn Rhan 5 (pennod un) Deddf yr Economi Ddigidol 2017 i gefnogi budd-daliadau pasbort a lleihau tlodi tanwydd

PDF, 416 KB, 35 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alt.formats@dsit.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Updates to this page

Published 29 July 2025
Last updated 3 July 2026 Show all updates

  1. Updated with the government response.

  2. First published.

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