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Ofcom

Volume 456: debated on Monday 29 January 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many investigations Ofcom completed into the unlicensed use of radio spectrum in the UK in (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005 and (d) 2006; and if he will make a statement; (111325)

(2) how many infringements of spectrum use Ofcom policing of spectrum recorded in (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005 and (d) 2006; and if he will make a statement;

(3) how much was spent on Ofcom’s policing of spectrum against unlicensed use in (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005 and (d) 2006; and if he will make a statement;

(4) how many prosecutions of unlicensed spectrum use Ofcom brought in (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005 and (d) 2006; how many of those were successful; what penalties were imposed on offenders; and if he will make a statement.

The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the chief executive’s letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.