HC Deb 14 June 1982 vol 25 cc604-5
16. Mr. Cockeram

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress has been made in the liberalisation of telephone attachments; and if he will seek to encourage a wider range of British-made equipment being made available for sale to the public.

The Under-Secretary of State for Industry (Mr. John Butcher)

The framework for the independent approval of telecommunication subscribers' apparatus AS now in place, following the incorporation of the British Approvals Board for Telecommunications on 7 May 1982. The British Standards Institution will open a new telecommunications testing laboratory on 6 July. Work on the preparation of standards is well advanced, and I expect the first standards to be published and approved in July.

Mr. Cockeram

Does my hon. Friend agree that the Buzby bird has been behaving more like a cuckoo and seeking to eject other fledglings from what it chooses to regard as its own exclusive nest? Will he now take up the cudgels on behalf of the consumer, who favours choice, variety and competition?

Mr. Butcher

I appreciate my hon. Friend's fear in this regard. There is some feeling that BT has become rather predatory. I assure the House that we shall take up the cudgels, and have indeed already done so, on behalf of my hon. Friend and all those who complain about this phenomenon. I have already approved a further third tranche of marking orders under the current procedures and we hope for rapid progress through the BABT in the future.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Is it right that British Telecom Enterprises Ltd. should be allowed to buy £½ million worth of fancy telephones from Messrs. Telcer of Milan? Why could not those telephones be made in the United Kingdom?

Mr. Butcher

Within the confines of the GATT and EEC arrangements, we are mindful that liberalisation should produce jobs for British workers in British companies. I am bound to say, however, that liberalisation holds fears for some of us that unless British companies respond positively and quickly we shall run the kind of risk to which the hon. Gentleman has referred.