Telephone Charges (Hansard, 17 September 2004)

§ Adam Price
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on(a) the fraudulent misuse of premium rare numbers on the internet and (b) Government efforts to solve the problem. [188475]

§ Mr. Mike O'Brien
The regulation of Premium Rate Services is a matter for the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services, with statutory backing from the Office of Communications (Ofcom).
The Government have recently asked Ofcom to review the regulation of Premium Rate Services (PRS) and Ofcom is due to report back it the beginning of October.

§ Adam Price
To ask the Secretary o f State for Trade and Industry what consideration has been given to banning premium rate internet lines as a means of tackling fraudulent misuse of premium rate numbers. [188476]

§ Mr. Timms
The regulation of premium rate services is a matter for the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS), with statutory backing from the Office of Communications (Ofcom).
The Government have recently asked Ofcom to review the regulation of Premium Rate Services (PRS) in order to examine strengthening ICSTIS' powers and Ofcom is due to report back at the beginning of October. ICSTIS, the Government and Ofcom have been considering all options, including banning PRS internet lines, for dealing with their fraudulent misuse.

§ Mr. Hurst
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken to tackle improper premium rate charges for telephone calls being added to telephone bills through internet connections; and if she will make a statement. [188546]

§ Mr. Mike O'Brien
The regulation of Premium Rate Services is a matter for the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS). The Government recently asked the Office of Communications (Ofcom) to carry out a review1860W of PRS regulation in order to examine strengthening ICSTIS' powers. It is due to report back at the beginning of October.