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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to promote an increase in internet service providers' accountability to their customers. [163431] Mr. Timms: Under the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom was given a duty to set general conditions for service providers to provide information about services standards and customer rights. Under Ofcom's General Conditions of Entitlement, Internet service providers must provide a consumer code of practice that will set out clear information about the company they are dealing with, what they offer, what policies are in place (e.g. in relation to disconnections, payment, billing etc.), how to contact them, how to complain and how to go to an alternative dispute body. The Communications Act 2003 also gave Ofcom a duty to promote media literacy. As part of Ofcom's strategy for the promotion of media literacy they will be encouraging Internet service providers to offer advice and guidance to customers, particularly in relation to the protection of young people from harmful content and services delivered on the Internet. In addition, Ofcom propose to direct people to information provided by other stakeholders when looking for information to control their and their children's activities online.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

419 c965W;419 c967W; 163431

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Children Accountability Internet Protection Internet service providers

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk