Written question asked by Graham Stringer (Labour) on Thursday, 11 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 November 2004. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 November 2004 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, how many complaints she has received in the last three years about the operation of the regulatory bodies for premium rate telephone companies; and if she will make a statement. - Inc figures. (Holding answer 15 November 2004).

Answer: Mr. Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints she has received in the last three years about the operation of the regulatory bodies for premium rate telephone companies; and if she will make a statement. [198175] Mr. Mike O'Brien: [holding answer 15 November 2004]: The Department has received about 120 complaints about Premium Rate Services (PRS) in the past year of which about 100 have referred to the operation of the premium rate regulator the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS). None complaining about ICSTIS was received in the previous two years. The Government have asked Ofcom to carry out a review of PRS regulation which will include an assessment of ICSTIS' remit and whether ICSTIS has the right tools and resources to regulate the PRS industry. The review is expected to report later in November.

Secondary information