To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to ban telephone chat-lines.

[holding answer 24 November 1989]: I have been asked to reply.On 17 November, the Director General of Telecommunications, Sir Bryan Carsberg, announced new controls on multiline and one-to-one services provided over British Telecom's network. From 8 December, when the controls come into effect, such services can be provided only in accordance with a code of practice acceptable to the Director General or if granted a specific exemption. No such codes have yet been recognised for these purposes.In the light of this announcement, I have no intention of meeting the Director General or of considering the introduction of legislation on this subject.