SILENT CALLS

Early day motion 1188, tabled 25 March 2009 by Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 63 members.

That this House notes that Ofcom receives over 1,000 complaints about silent telephone calls a month; recognises that, whilst silent calls are not malicious and are usually caused by automated calling systems, which are used in call centres to generate and connect calls, they can cause distress and anxiety to members of the public; welcomes the campaign by Ofcom, Consumer Focus and Age Concern to raise awareness of silent calls and how to avoid them; calls on the Government to draw attention to the issue and the campaign; and urges the Government to enforce Ofcom regulations more strictly, requiring call centres using automated calling systems to play an information message if a call is abandoned in order to prevent the call from being silent.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 28, Labour 27, Conservative 2, DUP 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.