To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the voluntary codes for governing services available on 0898 number telephone lines; and if he has plans further to regulate such lines.

[holding answer 9 July 1990]: This is a matter for the Director General of Telecommunications who has taken firm action to control 0898 and other premium-rate services. He announced on 29 June that from 10 July he is to withdraw recognition of the code of practice that governs "one-to-one" premium-rate services. They will not be able to operate from that date unless a new code of practice is recognised by the director general.