Clause 54 - Conditions about allocation and adoption of numbers
Communications Bill
12:30 pm
Mr Stephen Timms (Minister of State (e-Commerce & Competitiveness), Department of Trade and Industry; East Ham, Labour)
I will need to expand my letter to the hon. Gentleman, to pick up some of those points. He is absolutely right about the importance of number portability, which allows users to switch operators. There is no barrier to that, such as the risk to users of losing their number. That is the importance of number portability, rather than people's ability to take their number with them when they move. It is perfectly possible for people who are changing building to ask to take the number from their previous building with them—I can think of examples of cases in which such a request has been acceded to. However, I do not think that it is the intention to make it a requirement that someone moving in those circumstances would be able to insist on taking their number with them. I shall check that, and address the point in the letter that I have already agreed to send to the hon. Gentleman.
The hon. Gentleman is right about the importance of there not being a cost barrier. I am sure that that is addressed—somewhere, although I am not sure exactly where. I shall address that matter, too, in the letter that I look forward to sending him.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 54 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clauses 55 to 59 ordered to stand part of the Bill.