§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what view he takes of the proposed joint venture between British Telecom and International Business Machines (UK) Ltd., on which the two organisations have announced a joint study.
§ Mr. TebbitThe proposed data network management service would require the issue of a licence under the Telecommunications Act 1984. Careful consideration of any such application would be needed. In order to ensure that all relevant implications may be taken into account, I am inviting interested parties, including members of the FOCUS committee, to submit their views. BT and IBM have agreed to provide sufficient information about their plans to enable interested parties to comment on an informed basis. Any comments or views should be made to me by mid-September, so that I can reach a decision in principle soon afterwards.