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Gemma Doyle MP Welcomes Parliamentary Report to Tackle Nuisance Calls
Gemma Doyle, MP for West Dunbartonshire, has welcomed the publication of a report from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Nuisance Calls into the unsolicited marketing industry.
Gemma is a member of the Parliamentary Group which was set up to help stop nuisance calls by investigating unscrupulous practices and identifying solutions. The Group launched the inquiry in July with the aim of stopping the menace of unwanted cold calling.
Telecoms providers, regulators and consumer groups, all contributed to the inquiry and the report has been presented to Telecoms Minister, Ed Vaizey MP.
Welcoming the report, Gemma Doyle MP said:
“Constituents have contacted me expressing how fed up they are of being constantly pestered by nuisance calls and spam text messages. Residents should not be constantly targeted in this way. In particular, the report points out that up to 40% of phone calls received by elderly and vulnerable people are nuisance calls, exemplifying the targeting that is going on.
“Doing nothing is no longer an option, and this report paints a worrying picture. The report clearly sets out recommendations which can easily be implemented by Government and industry, such as tightening up the current opt out system by updating the list more regularly, and providing caller line identification to all marketing callers so it is clear to people who is calling them. I also believe the regulator must have greater power, which could be achieved by lowering the threshold it needs to take action.
“We need action now, not in a year’s time. I hope the regulators, Government and industry rise to the challenge laid down by this report and make the necessary changes which would be warmly welcomed.”
Richard Lloyd, Which? Executive Director said:
"Millions of us are being bombarded with nuisance calls and texts and people are totally sick and tired of it. We're pleased to see MPs recognising that the current system is failing the public and that the Government must go further and faster to call time on this menace.
"We need to see the law strengthened so people have greater control over use of their personal data and to make it easier for regulators to take action against companies breaking the rules."