§ 8. Dr. Vincent Cable (Twickenham)What steps the Government are taking to ensure that there is effective competition in the market for directories for information technology. [49379]
§ The Minister for Small Firms, Trade and Industry (Mrs. Barbara Roche)I believe that there are no comprehensive directories available for electronic mail and internet website addresses. They are typically obtained by means of special search engines which can be easily accessed on-line. They are numerous and independent of companies that provide the most popular web browser software packages. The market for information technology directories is emerging and barriers to entry are low, and at present we are not aware of any evidence of anti-competitive behaviour.
§ Dr. CableWill the Minister acknowledge that there is a potential threat to the public interest from private 565 monopolies being established in information technology, as we have already seen from the software standards of Mr. Gates's companies and the decoding of satellite signals by Mr. Murdoch's companies? Will she further acknowledge that the company that first develops an effective directory system will effectively have control over access to the whole e-mail commerce system? Will she reassure the House that the Department has the capacity to anticipate and react quickly to threats to the public interest and competition in the information sector?
§ Mrs. RocheMay I assure the hon. Gentleman that the Government treat competition issues in this area very seriously? He will know that, under existing United Kingdom competition law, the Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for investigating claims of anti-competitive behaviour. If the hon. Gentleman has any evidence in that regard, he should notify the director general. These are clearly the industries of the future, and we want to see more and more entrants because that must be good for consumers and for business.