§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 27 November 1989,Official Report, column 109, to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael), whether he has any plans to take action to reduce the use of telephone chat lines; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThis is a matter for the Director General of Telecommunications. He has taken firm action to control telephone chat lines and other premium-rate telephone services. In December 1989, he introduced separate codes of practice governing the operation of406W multiline chatline services and one-to-one services. He has also recently announced that from 1 August he is to withdraw recognition of the code of practice that governs one-to-one services. Such services will not be able to operate from that date unless the director general recognises a new code of practice.