Written question asked by Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 19 October 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 21 October 2005. It was answered by Alun Michael (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 November 2005 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Telephone Preference Service

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions enforcement action has been taken against companies for acting in breach of telephone preference service rules in each of the last five years.

Answer: The Information Commissioner, who has responsibility for the enforcement of the Telephone Preference Service scheme, initially warns companies informally that it will initiate formal action unless they cease to make calls to numbers registered with the Telephone Preference Service. The Commissioner tells me that this approach has been effective to date without the need for formal action, but that he will have no hesitation in using the powers of this office if there is any evidence of a failure to comply with a warning.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 20955; 439 c1360-1W;439 c1364-5W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Enforcement Telephone services Telephones Unsolicited goods and services Telephone Preference Service
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk