Communications Act 2003 (Maximum Penalty for Persistent Misuse of Network or Service) Order 2006

I thank the Minister for explaining the order and apologise for not being present throughout his speech, as I was detained in the Chamber. At the outset, I should say that we support this order. However, as an observation, we understand that British Telecom receives tens of thousands of calls a month from people distressed at having received a silent call, yet, as far as we are aware, few if any fines have been levied. I hope that the Minister will forgive me if he has answered this question already—but can he confirm or deny this and, if he confirms it, can he explain what the point is of increasing the fine? Of course, we are all in favour of discouraging silent calls, which cause, as the Explanatory Note and the Minister explained, unnecessary suffering, annoyance, inconvenience and anxiety—especially, one might add, to the elderly and to vulnerable single women. While the Minister offered to keep the House informed as to the effectiveness of Ofcom’s enforcement, we might nevertheless ask why the huge number of complaints has not been more rigorously followed through to prosecution and fines. In relation to silent calls, we welcome the new rules that the Minister mentioned, which Ofcom announced on 1 March. Again, we would be grateful to know how it is intended that they should be enforced.