§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to provide for subsidies to British Telecom equipment manufacture to enable in to remain competitive.
§ Mr. ButcherNo. Subsidies are no help in making industries competitive.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans British Telecom has to buy equipment overseas.
§ Mr. ButcherThe chairman of British Telecom has recently said that BT has no desire or intention to abandon its traditional suppliers.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to prevent British Telecom from purchasing from countries where no reciprocal agreement exists to buy foreign equipment.
§ Mr. ButcherNo. British Telecom must be free to make its own commercial decisions about the very small proportion of equipment it buys from abroad.