Written question asked by Nick St Aubyn (Conservative) on Thursday, 21 October 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 4 November 1999. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Thursday, 4 November 1999 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, What steps he is taking to ensure that future legislation on electronic commerce is able to cope with evolving technology. (Failed OPQ)

Answer: Mr. St. Aubyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that future legislation on electronic commerce is able to cope with evolving technology. [95833] Ms Hewitt: The Electronic Communications Bill, which will be introduced into Parliament in the next Session, is intended to be technology neutral. Firstly, it will start the process of ensuring that electronic transactions are given the same legal status as paper ones. Secondly it will establish a flexible legal framework which is capable of adapting to different ways of doing electronic commerce and different methods of ensuring authentication, integrity and confidentiality of information. Our policies are designed to increase our competitiveness by promoting electronic commerce, not a particular technology.

Secondary information