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<p>Further to my answer of 20 November 2012, Official Report, column 463W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Oliver Colvile), I can advise that the Department has taken a number of steps to provide more effective protection for consumers against unsolicited marketing calls, with a focus on improved enforcement. This includes successfully pressing the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) to increase the resources it devotes to enforcing the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) 2003, which have since increased from 28 staff members to39. The ICO has also now published on its website a list of the most complained about companies that make calls to Telephone Preference Service (TPS) registered consumers. If the companies fail to remedy their actions they are likely to face further enforcement action. On 28 November the ICO also served monetary penalties totalling £440,000 to two owners of a marketing company, who were responsible for illegally distributing millions of unsolicited spam text messages to consumers. In addition, the ICO is considering issuing monetary penalties to three other companies for breaching the TPS.</p><p>The ICO is also working closely with the Claims Management Regulator (CMR), which regulates financial companies, to identify those responsible for many unsolicited marketing calls and texts. Also, the ICO has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the CMR, to facilitate the sharing of information about breaches of the PECR by claims management companies.</p><p>I will also be meeting the ICO, TPS and Ofcom again in the new year to review progress and explore further options for improved enforcement.</p> |