Written question asked by Jim Cousins (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 May 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 3 June 2003. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Tuesday, 3 June 2003 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 sanctions there are when spam email is being sent to create or extend email databases; and what controls there are on the means used to create email databases which are sold.

Answer: Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what sanctions there are when spam e-mail is being sent to create or extend e-mail databases; and what controls there are on the means used to create e-mail databases which are sold. [116249] Mr. Timms: There will be new controls on unsolicited direct marketing by e-mail under the Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications (Directive 2002/58/EC). The Government are currently consulting on draft implementing regulations for the Directive, including the sanctions available. The creation and sale of e-mail databases, which involve the processing of personal data, is already subject to the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Secondary information