Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield, Conservative)

The Minister and other contributors to the debate on clause 102 rightly pointed out the importance of the code, and I wish to raise a simple question about the publication and maintenance of the register. Subsection (4)(a) states that the register should be made available to the public, and subsection (4)(b) talks about fees. Does the Minister envisage that Ofcom will maintain the register on a website that is available to everyone who tries to access it? If so, what is the implication for any income stream on which Ofcom might be partially dependent that might be generated by subsection (4)(b)?

Mr Stephen Timms (Minister of State (e-Commerce & Competitiveness), Department of Trade and Industry; East Ham, Labour)

I expect Ofcom to place that list on its website so that people can look at it simply by accessing the site. At present, charges are levied only for the costs of photocopying a part of the register. That would fall away, as we are talking primarily about web access, so I do not expect a charge to be levied.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 104 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 105 to 114 ordered to stand part of the Bill.