HL Deb 22 November 2001 vol 628 cc156-8WA
The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To what extent the Office of Communications Bill is concerned with the regulation of information services. [HL1267]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville

The Office of Communications Bill establishes the Office of Communications (Ofcom), enabling the Government to take practical steps to get the regulator up and running to receive the functions a communications Bill would confer upon it. This is purely a paving measure and is not concerned with regulation but with the preparation of a body to receive regulatory functions at a later stage.

The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To what extent the establishment of Ofcom will represent a requirement of a general nature relating to the taking up and pursuit of information service activities. [HL1268]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville

The establishment of Ofcom is intended to bring together the regulatory responsibilities of five existing authorities operating in the communications area. The Office of Communications Bill currently before the House does no more than provide the authority to begin to take practical steps to bring the five bodies together. Ofcom will have no regulatory responsibilities until a communications Bill giving it such responsibilities is passed by Parliament. We hope to publish a draft of the communications Bill for consultation in the spring of 2002. The Communications White Paper published in December 2000 set out the range of responsibilities that are anticipated for Ofcom in due course.

The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the justification, content and purpose of the Office of Communications Bill is devoted in whole or in part to controlling information service activities. [HL1269]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville

The Office of Communications Bill establishes the Office of Communications (Ofcom), enabling the Government to take practical steps to get the regulator up and running to receive the functions a communications Bill would confer upon it. This is purely a paving measure and will not involve any regulation whatsoever.

The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the statement by Baroness Blackstone on 29 October (HL Deb, col. 1187), whether in respect of Ofcom and its remit for regulation of information services, coverage is the same as that for existing legislation on broadcasting, telecommunications and the management of the spectrum. [HL1270]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville

Ofcom's full remit for regulation will be set out in a communications Bill, a draft of which we hope to publish in the spring of 2002 for consultation. The Communications White Paper published in December 2000 set out the Government's initial thinking on what that remit should be.