Clause 1 - Functions and general powers of OFCOM
Communications Bill
11:00 am
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford, Conservative)
I had not anticipated leaping to my feet quite so soon but, unfortunately, we have already seen a demonstration of the effects of knives in our being unable to complete our debate on the sittings motion.
Given that clause 1 sets the scene for the establishment of Ofcom, it would be useful to make a few general observations about the regulation of utilities and public limited companies and, in particular, the challenges facing Ofcom as a newly established regulator covering a considerable variety of industries. As members of the Committee will be aware, Ofcom will take on the functions of five regulators that currently perform different functions. There is some overlap between the Independent Television Commission and the Broadcasting Standards Commission and one or two other areas that are currently divided up among the five regulators, but in the main the embrace of Ofcom will take in all the activities covered by those regulators and, in some cases, extend a little further. Ofcom will also take on responsibility for some of the work of the Office of Fair Trading.
It is instructive to consider that Oftel was the first of the five regulators to be set up, as a result of the Conservative Government's privatisation of British Telecom. Oftel was to some extent a trailblazer among the utility regulators. Some might think that it has been less successful than other regulators. Certainly, if one considers the state of the market that Oftel regulates, its prime objective of encouraging and promote competitive markets—