Communications Bill - Clause 69 - Permitted subject-matter of access-related conditions
Communications Bill
5:30 pm
Dr Kim Howells (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Culture, Media & Sport; Pontypridd, Labour)
I certainly believe that Ofcom should examine that issue. One of its central remits is to promote and encourage competition whenever possible, so it should examine the contractual arrangements presently in place. As my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda made clear, that is what we buy into when we purchase our mobile phones. We enter into a contractual arrangement, which will have certain limitations. Incidentally, I am appalled to hear that the hon. Gentleman takes a mobile phone with him on walks. It drives me insane when I am walking in the Welsh mountains, where one hardly sees a soul. If I hear a phone going, it is usually Peter Hain. [Hon. Members: ''Who?''] I should say my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, who, though a keen and fine walker, simply cannot leave his mobile phone at home. [Hon. Members: ''He's probably lost.''] My right hon. Friend has never been lost.
The powers are necessary in order to secure and support effective competition in the provision of communications services, so the clause should stand part of the Bill.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 69 ordered to stand part of the Bill.