HL Deb 21 March 1990 vol 517 cc311-2

2.43 p.m.

Lady Saltoun of Abernethy asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any plans to introduce legislation to prohibit the sending of unsolicited advertising and circulars by facsimile (fax) machines.

The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Trefgarne)

My Lords, any advertiser of this kind is required to cease sending his messages when so requested by recipients. However, the Director General of Telecommunications is currently considering whether any further steps are necessary to contain this nuisance.

Lady Saltoun of Abernethy

My Lords, will the Government consider how legislation which has been enacted in certain parts of the United States of America, such as Connecticut, Oregon and Maryland, works, with a view possibly to introducing legislation of their own? Will they also consider introducing legislation to make it an offence to send unsolicited advertising material to anybody on OFTEL's list of fax owners who does not wish to receive it? Will the Government ask OFTEL to get the list out as quickly as possible?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I cannot promise that we shall introduce legislation for this purpose. However, I hope that adequate protection can be provided by a code of practice which the director general is currently discussing with the professional and trade organisations concerned.

Lord Williams of Elvel

My Lords, how does the recipient complain, and by what mechanism, about unsolicited junk coming through his fax machine? If, for example, I received an unsolicited copy of the Chancellor's Budget Statement, which is obvious junk, who do I complain to?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, the noble Lord would have to complain to the person who sent it.