asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will hold discussions with United Kingdom mobile telephone companies to promote further reductions in charges to United Kingdom customers making calls to other European Union countries. [HL1157]

The Government hold regular discussions with mobile phone companies operating in the UK at which a number of issues are discussed. The regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), holds discussions with all the UK mobile phone operators regarding the roaming regulations generally, including compliance with the pricing caps.

The Mobile Roaming (European Communities) Regulations which came into force on 30 July 2007 set a downward path for the cost of both calls made and received in each of the next three years. Moreover, the regulations require regulators to report on progress in the roaming market and the EU Commission is obliged to bring forward proposals by December 2008 on whether it wants to extend regulation beyond a time period of three years. The Government would continue to welcome comment from either business or consumers on the implementation and future of regulation in this area.