Overview

This bill amends the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 to tighten rules around unsolicited marketing phone calls. It aims to make it harder for companies to make these calls without explicit consent.

Description

The bill makes several key changes to existing regulations:

• Amendment to Regulation 21: This regulation deals with unsolicited marketing calls. The bill changes the wording to clarify that companies can only make such calls if they have explicit consent. Previous exceptions are removed.
• Amendment to Regulation 26: This regulation concerns the register companies must keep to track consent for marketing calls. The bill removes a provision that allowed companies to avoid maintaining this register under certain conditions, thus strengthening the requirement for maintaining accurate records.
• Short Title, Extent, and Commencement: The bill will be known as the Unsolicited Telephone Communications Act 2013, apply across the UK, and come into force immediately upon passage.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly specify any government spending. The impact on government spending is likely to be minimal, potentially involving minor administrative costs associated with enforcement of the revised regulations.

Groups Affected

The bill will affect several groups:

• Telemarketing Companies: They will face stricter regulations and increased compliance costs. They will be required to obtain explicit consent before making marketing calls and to maintain accurate records.
• Consumers: They will experience fewer unsolicited marketing calls, leading to reduced nuisance and improved privacy.
• Regulatory Bodies (e.g., ICO): They may see an increase in complaints related to non-compliance with the new regulations.

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