ABANDONED CALLS

Early day motion 590, tabled 10 January 2007 by Lord Spellar (Labour). Signed by 53 members.

That this House notes that the number of complaints to BT about silent and abandoned calls has reduced in volume by over 60 per cent. since the beginning of 2006; welcomes the publication in March of Ofcom's revised statement of policy on the persistent misuse of an electronic communications network or service; further notes that these guidelines require companies using automated diallers to provide a recorded message about the call when it has been abandoned, with an additional requirement that the abandoned call rate should not exceed three per cent. of all live calls during any 24-hour period; further notes that Ofcom has recently issued notifications as part of its on-going investigation to four companies believed to be in breach of these requirements; and wholeheartedly welcomes the increase in the maximum penalty that can be imposed for organisations found to be in breach from £5,000 to £50,000.

Signatures by party: Labour 34, Liberal Democrat 12, Conservative 4, DUP 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.