§ Mr. ChurchillTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress he has made in his discussions with the Director General of Telecommunications to ensure that premium rate services are provided only following an opt-in decision by the subscriber, communicated in writing.
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§ Mr. RedwoodThe regulation of premium rate telephone services is primarily, a matter for the Director General of Telecommunications, Sir Bryan Carsberg. He has welcomed British Telecom's recent introduction of optional call-barring to premium rate services, as recommended by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in its report on chatlines and message services published in January 1989.
British Telecom are able to make the facility available to customers on digital exchanges. It will become more widely available as more exchanges are digitalised.