§ Mr. DavidTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with her European counterparts on measures to curb the posting of offensive and unsolicited mail to the UK from other EU countries. [36571]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 25 February 2002]: The Department's officials work closely with enforcement bodies, such as the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), who work with their European counterparts on unsolicited mail.
The ASA supervises the British Codes of Advertising and Sales Promotion and works with national and international regulators. The ASA liaises with the European Advertising Standards Alliance for action with the regulatory body.
Since 1 June 2001, Stop Now Orders have provided a stronger mechanism for enforcing consumer protection legislation emanating from the European Directive. This includes laws on advertising. These Orders enable OFT and other specified UK qualified entities to act against businesses elsewhere in the EU, where their activities are harming the 'collective interests of consumers'. The OFT is working closely with counterparts in other Member States to establish the most effective means of acting against cross-border infringements within Europe.
Unsolicited mail which is indecent or obscene under the terms of the Protection of Children Act 1978 or the Obscene Publications Act 1955 is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.