HC Deb 10 February 1988 vol 127 cc349-50
13. Mr. David Nicholson

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has on moves to increase competition in the telecommunications sector in the European Community.

Mr. Butcher

The Commission's Green Paper on telecommunications, which was laid before the House on 17 July, contains a range of proposals for the development of a competitive Community market in both services and equipment. In a series of meetings with telecommunications Ministers of the Community I have underlined this objective and exchanged views on methods of increasing competition in this sector.

Mr. Nicholson

Is my lion. Friend aware that there are still complaints about the difficulties of access to a number of national markets in the European Community? Is he satisfied that rapid enough progress is being made towards the achievement of a single common market in telecommunications equipment? Is he aware that numerous parts of Britain, including Somerset, depend for job and wealth creation on that being achieved, and that we cannot wait until 1992?

Mr. Butcher

The short answer is no, I am not satisfied by the rate of progress. That is why I have arranged so many meetings with my European counterparts. We have all agreed that we should make the fastest possible progress towards a truly common market in telecommunications equipment. I am encouraged that the Commission's directives on the liberalisation of the terminals market borrows a great deal from British experience, and that many of the principles in the Commission's Green Paper borrow very directly from United Kingdom experience. In the meantime, we must see that our companies have access to what are, in practical terms, closed markets.

Mr. Lewis

Is the Minister aware of the concern about the growing importation from the continent of pornographic material by premium service operators of British Telecom? Many of us are fed up to the back teeth with the material that is being put out on the telephone and are sick of the "rent a knee trembler" performances that are being put out.

Mr. Butcher

As the hon. Gentleman knows, we looked into that matter and associated issues during the Adjournment debate in the early hours of this morning. I hope that the hon. Gentleman is content that the action that the Director General of Oftel is currently taking with a considerable degree of urgency will meet some of his concerns. Both DG Oftel and BT share a number of the hon. Gentleman's concerns. We want to see fast action, but it must be for DG Oftel to implement that action, if necessary through a licence change.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

While recognising that the Minister is not responsible for the approval of equipment that can be fitted to British Telecom lines in homes, may I ask whether he is aware that Telecom, or someone, is obstructing the approval of diverter equipment that can be used on telephone lines? It seems that that is because Telecom can gain far more by renting than by allowing people to buy. Will the Minister now look into that, make the necessary representations and clear the blockage?

Mr. Butcher

Yes, Sir.