§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place with mobile phone companies regarding internet access through mobile phones and exposure of children to inappropriate and illegal material; and what plans she has to address this. [111150]
§ Mr. TimmsIt is Government policy to seek to ensure that the law in the UK applies on-line in the same way as it does in the off-line world. We recognise that technology now allows access to the internet via the latest generation of mobile phones. I welcome the decisions of most of the mobile operators to support financially the world of the Internet Watch Foundation.
Mobile phone operators now have a responsibility as content providers. Therefore the DTI and other Government Departments have had discussions with all the operators to ensure that access by minors to inappropriate or illegal material is as hard as it is via any other medium.
Government are working with industry to agree a Code of Practice with all the mobile operators. This will include giving parents the ability to block adult services on new mobile phones and a classification of all material offered. We expect to be able to agree and introduce the Code shortly.