A CAMPAIGNING MP has welcomed Government plans to combat nuisance phone calls.

Bury North MP David Nuttall has been working with consumer groups and Government ministers for two years in an attempt to take on direct-marketing firms.

Mr Nuttall said the problem has grown significantly since 2013 and is one of the most frequent subjects of complaints from his constituents.

Now, Parliament has launched a consultation with a view to forcing companies to display their number when making a call or face a fine of up to £500,000.

One in five calls reported to the Information Commissioner's Office has a withheld number.

In the House of Commons last Thursday, Mr Nuttall asked: "Nuisance phone calls continue to blight the lives of many of my constituents.

"Will the Minister (for Culture, Media and Sport, Ed Vaizey) explain how quickly the latest proposed action on caller line identification will be introduced and enforced?"

Mr Vaizey replied: "I am very pleased that we have now issued a consultation on caller line identification which will, we hope, allow receivers of nuisance calls to screen the calls so that they take only calls from people from whom they want to hear."

A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: "The six-week consultation closes on February 23 and following this, the Government plans to bring the measure into force in spring 2016.”

Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister for data protection, said: "Being pestered by marketing calls is annoying at the best of times and at its worst it can bring real misery for the people on the receiving end.

"There is no simple solution to the problem of nuisance calls, but making direct marketing companies display their telephone number will help consumers and regulators take action."

Since January 2012, the ICO has issued fines totalling nearly £2 million for serious cases of nuisance calls.

Last September, Home Energy & Lifestyle Management Ltd (HELM) was fined £200,000 for making over six million nuisance calls as part of a massive automated call marketing campaign.

Mr Nuttall welcomed the Government announcement and added: "I entirely support the ability of businesses to be able to contact people by telephone but individuals should be able to opt out of receiving these calls."

Visit tinyurl.com/nusiancecallsconsultation to take part in the consultation.