Correspondence

Welcoming the new Chair: letter from DSIT Secretary of State to Ofcom

Published 11 June 2026

The Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
22-26 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2EG

Dear Sir Ian,

I am delighted to welcome you to your new role as Chair of Ofcom.

You are joining Ofcom as it is entering a critical chapter. From protecting consumers and tackling online harms to driving growth across our communications sectors, Ofcom has a key role to play. As we discussed when we met, your appointment is an opportunity to reset the relationship between Ofcom and the government. I recognise the importance of Ofcom’s regulatory independence and decision making, but it is vital that government and Ofcom work together on a shared agenda.

I welcome the comments that you made at the Select Committee hearing on 20 May, including on prioritising delivery of the online safety regime, improving the quality of mobile coverage reporting, and on Ofcom’s key role in protecting vulnerable people during the PSTN migration. As the Select Committee observed, Ofcom’s primary duty is to the British public, and I would expect to see that demonstrated in Ofcom’s decisions and public engagement.

As you begin your role I wanted to clearly set out my priorities for the next 12 months. These should be considered alongside the telecoms and the online safety Statements of Strategic Priorities, and the government’s wider focus on growth and regulatory reform. This includes a focus on regulator performance and transparency, through more frequent performance discussions with ministers, publication of performance against KPIs, and reducing the administrative burden of regulation to business.

Delivering effective and timely online safety regulation

I look forward to seeing a step change in Ofcom’s pace, delivery and engagement on online safety implementation and enforcement over the coming year. The Online Safety Act was a long time coming and people across the country have been waiting too long for the protections it brings. I have been very clear that Ofcom has the government’s full support to use the complete range of enforcement powers Parliament has provided it with. While Ofcom has launched almost 100 investigations and issued almost £5 million in fines, I am fully aware there is more to do, particularly to protect children online. I expect Ofcom to:

• Maintain an urgent sense of momentum to implement the remaining OSA duties and ensure that we are maximising the levers that the Act provides.
• Deliver robust, effective and timely enforcement of the Act as a priority, and continuing to work closely with DSIT on options to strengthen the enforcement regime further.
• Keep pace with the rapid emergence of new online harms, including by ensuring that platforms embed safety by design principles into product development and decision-making from the outset.
• Prioritise tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) online, including through acceleration of Ofcom’s evaluation of its “A Safer Life Online for Women and Girls” guidance and its implementation to drive more effective and timely platform action against abusive content.
• Prioritise tackling illegal hate speech online, including antisemitism. This reflects this government’s commitments made through Protecting What Matters to protect communities and make online spaces more secure.
• Work with DSIT to deliver swiftly on the findings of the consultation: Growing up in the online world: a national consultation, alongside wider legislative changes including the measures in the Crime and Policing Act 2026.

Driving a more collaborative and growth-focused regulatory approach

As one of the UK’s largest regulators, with a wide-ranging remit, Ofcom has a leading role to play in supporting growth and innovation across the UK economy. I expect Ofcom to:

• Deliver against the recently agreed growth goals (Annex A).
• Strengthen the culture of collaboration between Ofcom and DSIT, including regular and structured engagement on strategic policy development, information sharing and research priorities.
• Engage with DSIT on Ofcom’s draft 2027/28 Plan of Work before it is consulted on, crucially to reflect as appropriate the Statements of Strategic Priorities.
• Review it’s approach to risk, with a view to ensuring that it is appropriately calibrated to support innovation and growth, while maintaining necessary protections.
• Continue to contribute to wider regulatory reform objectives, including supporting the government’s commitment to reduce the administrative costs of regulation by 25%, and improving transparency, predictability and engagement with government and stakeholders.

Strengthening Ofcom’s strategic framework and performance approach

Over the next year, Ofcom should prioritise updating its governance and performance framework to support its expanded remit and deliver strong outcomes across sectors. This includes introducing clear and consistent KPIs across Ofcom’s remit to improve transparency, accountability and performance tracking, and to ensure that performance metrics support the government’s growth mission and wider strategic objectives.

Strengthening governance

I would also welcome your engagement with the following governance and organisational priorities:

• Supporting Board capability, including working with DSIT on the appointment of non-executive directors to fill current and forthcoming vacancies.
• Ensuring robust performance management arrangements, including conducting annual recorded performance appraisals of non-executive directors and annual performance review meetings with your senior sponsor in DSIT.
• Maintaining regular engagement with DSIT, including quarterly meetings with ministers, of which 2 will be Ofcom performance review meetings, and responding to emerging priorities as appropriate.
• Engaging with DSIT on an updated Framework Document, to be agreed by September 2026, which sets out roles and responsibilities, including DSIT’s role as the sponsor department, and how Ofcom and DSIT will work together.
• Considering Ofcom’s approach to consumer engagement.

In light of these priorities, and the views you stated at the Committee hearing, I expect you will be giving early attention to what changes may be needed to structures and management arrangements – and I look forward to hearing your plans on this. You should also keep in mind your responsibilities as Chair set out in your appointment letter and discussions with your senior sponsor, the Director General for Digital Foundations.

I value the important work that you and Ofcom are undertaking at a time of significant change and expanding responsibility. I look forward to regular engagement with you as you lead Ofcom through this critical period. I am copying this letter to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and to Dame Melanie Dawes.

Yours sincerely,

The Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology