§ Kevin BrennanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultation she has had with(a) Oftel, (b) the Information Commissioner's Office, (c) BT's nuisance calls bureau, (d) NTL's nuisance calls bureau and (e) the Direct Marketing Association about providing telephone users with protection from silent calls by power diallers; and if she will make a statement. [13176]
§ Mr. AlexanderOftel and the Information Commissioner's Office both have responsibilities for the consumer protection safeguards that are in place relating to silent calls by power diallers. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry does not have an enforcement role in this area. However, DTI officials are in regular contact with Oftel, the ICO, and the DMA over policy in this area, and recently participated in a working group meeting set up by the DMA to tackle the problems caused by power dialling systems. My officials have consulted with Oftel, the Information Commissioner's Office and the Direct Marketing Association, together with representatives from operators' nuisance call bureaux, to ensure that consumers continue to benefit from the right level of protection.