§ Jonathan ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what meetings her Department (a) has had and (b) is planning to have with the DTLR regarding the impact of the line rental scheme on Government policies to encourage the roll-out of broad band and high band width networks. [54112]
§ Mr. AlexanderOfficials in my Department, together with regulators responsible for all the utilities, have met with DTLR on a number of occasions to discuss lane rental, and will continue to meet to monitor the effects of the lane rental pilot schemes which are being implemented in Camden and Middlesbrough and will extend until May 2004.
The effects of national implementation of lane rental charging on the roll out of broadband and 3G mobile networks will be taken into account in these reviews.