To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans his Department has to bring forward legislation to implement the provisions of the new EU Telecoms Directives; and what consultation will take place prior to implementation. (323230)

The Department is working with Ofcom, the Information Commissioner’s Office and relevant Government Departments to determine what legislative changes are required to implement the provisions of the new EU Telecoms Directives, and has begun informal discussions with consumer and industry parties affected by the changes.

We will consult widely over the summer with the intention of bringing forward secondary legislation under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 to implement the changes by 25 May 2011.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions his Department has had with (a) Ofcom, (b) representatives of industry and (c) consumer groups on the implementation of the new number portability rights and obligations introduced by the EU Citizens' Rights Directive. (323231)

The Department have had regular contact with Ofcom to discuss the maintenance and application of the number portability regime in the UK in general. Additionally they have held discussions to consider specifically implementation of the electronic communications framework review and the implications this has for number portability in the UK. Ofcom plan to publish a statement and a further public consultation shortly on improving number portability in the UK and although this was work which was already under way it is consistent with the provisions of the new directives.

Ofcom’s statement and public consultation will precede a fuller, separate, review of switching processes to take place later this year across the entire range of converging electronic communications sectors which will take into account the changes required by the EU Citizens’ Rights Directive.

The Department will consult widely on implementation of the European Framework Review (including the Citizens’ Rights Directive) over the summer with the intention of bringing forward secondary legislation under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 to implement the changes by 25 May 2011. Some informal discussions have already taken place with operators (e.g. with Hutchison, 3UK and Vodafone) on number portability. We have also had informal discussions with Consumer Focus.

More formal engagement on the detail of the new requirements is planned for the consultation and we are committed to engaging with Ofcom, industry and relevant consumer groups throughout the implementation period from now to end May 2011.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to prepare for implementation of the new number portability rights and obligations introduced by the EU Citizens' Rights Directive. (323232)

The Department have had regular contact with Ofcom to discuss the maintenance and application of the number portability regime in the UK in general. Additionally they have held discussions to consider specifically implementation of the electronic communications framework review and the implications this has for number portability in the UK. Ofcom plan to publish a statement and a further public consultation shortly on improving number portability in the UK and although this was work which was already under way it is consistent with the provisions of the new directives.

Ofcom's statement and public consultation will precede a fuller, separate, review of switching processes to take place later this year across the entire range of converging electronic communications sectors which will take into account the changes required by the EU Citizens' Rights Directive.

At the same time the Department is working with Ofcom to determine what legislative changes are required to implement the new provisions and we have begun informal discussions with consumer and industry parties affected by the changes.

We will consult widely over the summer with the intention of bringing forward Secondary Legislation under Section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 to implement the changes by 25 May 2011.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions his Department has had with Ofcom on assisting business to meet the new number portability rights and obligations introduced by the EU Citizens' Rights Directive. (323233)

The Department are in regular contact with Ofcom to discuss the maintenance and application of the number portability regime for electronic communications in the UK. The Department have recently had discussions with Ofcom on their forthcoming statement and public consultation on improving number porting in the UK. This work was already under way and is consistent with the new directives.

The Department will consult widely on implementation of the European Framework Review over the summer with the intention of bringing forward secondary legislation under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 to implement the changes by 25 May 2011. Some informal discussions with operators have already taken place (e.g. with Hutchison, 3UK and Vodafone). More formal engagement on the detail of the new requirements is planned for the consultation and we are committed to engaging with Ofcom and industry throughout the implementation period from now to end May 2011.