Written question asked by John Robertson (Labour) on Tuesday, 4 May 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 May 2004. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Monday, 10 May 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, what steps her Department is taking to protect consumers from unsolicited faxes.

Answer: John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to protect consumers from unsolicited faxes. [171348] Mr. Timms: Individual subscribers are offered protection from unsolicited direct marketing faxes under the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 and the sending of such faxes is prohibited unless individuals have given their prior consent. Corporate subscribers are protected from receiving unsolicited direct marketing faxes if they have previously notified the sender that they do wish to receive such faxes or have been registered for at least 28 days with the Fax Preference Service (FPS), which is an "opt-out" scheme and is run on Ofcom's behalf by the Direct Marketing Association.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 421 c94-5W; 171348
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Consumers Facsimile transmission Protection Unsolicited goods and services
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk