To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he plans to take to regulate the unsolicited sending of facsimile messages. [67456]

Further to my predecessor' s written answer on 16 November 1998, Official Report, column 434, the Government laid the Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) (Direct Marketing) Regulations 1998 before Parliament on 17 December 1998. These Regulations will come into force on 1 May 1999.The Regulations will prohibit the sending of unsolicited direct marketing faxes to private individuals and sole traders in the UK, as well as to partnerships in England and Wales. The Regulations also establish an "opt-out" scheme for corporate subscribers who do not wish to receive such faxes. The Office of Telecommunications (OFTEL) is responsible for setting up the opt-out scheme. Details of how to register will be publicised in due course.