§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they propose to take any action to clarify the provisions of the Electronic 56WA Communications Act 2000 as to what constitutes a legally binding electronic transaction. [HL3912]
§ The Minister for Science, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)No action is proposed. It is for contracting parties to decide for themselves whether to contract or trade electronically. It is for the court to decide the extent to which parties are bound on the basis of electronic communications. The Electronic Communications Act supports the increasing use of electronic documentation by making electronic signatures admissible as evidence in disputes about such contracts. I do not believe the Act requires clarification.