Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank the hon. Member for the question. I am informed that Mauritius Telecom has introduced e-billing as part of its green initiatives. This implies that customers can receive their bill in electronic forms instead of paper or by e-mail or SMS. Enabling e-billing for mobile prepay, post-paid services and fixed telephony were implemented in 2021 and 2022 and I am further informed that e-billing is being implemented across fixed and mobile services. Customers who do not have access to email may actually opt for SMS e-bill while paper bills remain available on request and can be collected free of charge at the outlets. Assistance is also being given to customers through hotline over and above the outlets, offering options such as SMS notifications as we just mentioned, especially for elderly and vulnerable because we know they are constrained. Today, 82% of customers receive their bills electronically. Other remaining customers including businesses and certain Government services still receive their paper bills. In fact, since 2022 there have been 3540 complaints with regard to our bills around fixed line services. However, these customers prefer paper bills and those requests have been addressed. I am also informed that there are no recorded cases where customers were penalised and this is a substantive part of the question, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, because there is question on whether they have been penalised. So, they have not been penalised. In fact, customers are given 30 days to pay their bills and a penalty of 10% can be applied. However, for request for waiving, Mauritius Telecom is giving due consideration to certain requests. In cases which are genuine, the requests are being acceded to and further information, I am sure will provide suggestions to Mauritius Telecom because they have an independent board for them to make information available with regard to the vulnerable and the old people. Thank you.

Yes, you have a supplementary?

Thank you. Yes, thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. Will the hon. Minister propose a procedure to apply for a waiver on retroactive basis especially for the senior citizens and vulnerable persons?

Yes, thank you for this supplementary question hon. Member. We will certainly convey this message to the board of Mauritius Telecom for them to give effect to the request. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Thank you. The hon. Third Member for Flacq & Bon Accueil! CULTURAL DESK – ONE-STOP SHOP – SETTING UP