QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED ABOUT ROAMING CHARGES SAYS FIONA

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 27th Oct 2007

In response to revelations that the Government was in collusion with UK mobile phone operators over keeping mobile roaming charges high in the EU, the North East's Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament, Fiona Hall, has said that more questions need to be asked.

It has emerged out of documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act that the Government was trying to prevent the passing of European legislation forcing mobile phone operators to lower roaming charges for UK customers travelling within the EU. Despite the Government's best efforts, legislation was passed forcing operators to lower tariffs to 34p per minute for making international calls within the EU and 17p for receiving a call.

However, UK service providers delayed implementing these cheap charges until the very last minute - the end of September. Mobile phone operators on the Continent brought in the cheap charges immediately on 1st August.

Commenting on the revelations, Lib Dem MEP Fiona Hall said:

"MEPs campaigned long and hard to get rid of excessive roaming charges but now we know that while MEPs were fighting to get a good deal for mobile users, the UK government was doing its best to keep prices high.

"What is more, British mobile phone companies such as O2 and T-Mobile made their customers wait until the last possible moment before bringing in lower roaming charges across the board.

"By contrast on the Continent, sister operations to the British ones, who are part of the same parent companies, forced in the lower charges straight away on 1st August as a good will gesture to their customers.

"I would like to know whether the Labour Government also connived to delay the introduction of cheap rates. If so it is British holiday-makers who have paid the price."