Clause 3 - General duties of Ofcom
Communications Bill
4:30 pm
Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion, Plaid Cymru)
The hon. Gentleman is right about the overriding duty of the other regulators to promote competition. Does he accept that the other regulators, such as Ofgem, have strong, independent consumer watchdogs, whereas Ofcom will not? Ofcom will appoint its own consumer watchdog in the consumer panel. Surely that is a material difference that means that, in the Bill, we cannot put commercial or competition duties above all else. The Bill will have to recognise the needs of citizens and consumers.