§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to legislate to control "spam" e-mail under Article 10 of the European Union's Distance Selling Directive by the opt-in or opt-out method. [HL1926]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleArticle 10.2 of Distance Selling Directive 97/7/EC states that member states shall ensure that means of distance communication, including unsolicited commercial e-mail, which allow individual communications shall be used only where there is no clear objection from the consumer. My department issued a consultation document and draft implementing regulations in November 1999 and officials are currently analysing the responses on this issue from business and consumer groups.
§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the statement by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 14th March (CWH 25–26), why they consider that a small business is more capable of dealing with "spam" e-mail than the average private user of e-mail. [HL1927]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleIn my statement of 14 March 1 referred to Directive 97/7 EC on the protection of consumers in respect of distance contracts which provides that means of distance communication, including unsolicited commercial e-mail, which allow individual communications shall be used only where there is no clear objection from the consumer. The directive does not apply to business transactions.