New inquiry into nuisance telephone calls boosts Mark Hunter MP’s campaign

Mark Hunter MP has welcomed the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's announcement that it will to hold an inquiry into Nuisance Telephone Calls and Text Messages.

Unwanted marketing messages along with silent telephone calls have led to complaints from constituents across the country to their Members of Parliament and the Culture, Media and Sport Committee has now decided to hold an inquiry into the matter.

Ofcom and the Information Commissioner's Office both have regulatory and enforcement responsibilities, and the Telephone Preference Service allows individuals to have their telephone number removed from relevant marketing lists. The Committee will investigate how the current regulatory system is enforced, the effectiveness of Telephone Preference Service and the practical measures that are taken by communications service providers to curtail such communications.

The Committee has requested short written submissions on the issue in Word format. A copy of the submission should be sent by e-mail to cmsev@parliament.uk and should have "Nuisance calls" in the subject line. Submissions should be received by Thursday 15 August 2013.

Mark Hunter, MP for Cheadle, who has led his own campaign "No 2 Nuisance Calls" since January, and set up a petition so that residents can lend their support: http://markhunter.org.uk/en/petition/no-2-nuisance-calls-campaign-petition

Mark has welcomed the opening of the inquiry, commenting:

"The Committee's announcement is a great boost to the campaign against nuisance calls. Awareness of this issue is growing and this inquiry will help to highlight the problem. For too long we have put up with these frustrating marketing calls made by companies who make money by preying on the more vulnerable members of our community - enough is enough.

"I would urge my constituents to sign my petition against Nuisance Calls and to make a submission to the Committee's inquiry. The more people that get in touch, the quicker the campaign will succeed in ending these calls. I will continue to highlight this issue to my ministerial colleagues and will be taking the petition to 10 Downing Street."