§ Mr. Chris Pattenasked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress has been made towards implementing the Government's intention that the approval of telecommunications subscribers' apparatus for connection to British telecommunication networks should be undertaken by an independent body.
§ Mr. ButcherOn 14 October my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry, issued approvals for five standards under section 16(1) of the British Telecommunications Act 1981. Following the issue of these approvals, the British Approvals Board for Telecommunications is now accepting applications for the approval of subscriber's apparatus within the scope of the five approved standards.
The new approval arrangements for such apparatus have come into force immediately, but for the convenience of suppliers who have been working to earlier, slightly different, technical requirements a period of overlap is being provided during which approvals will continue also to be given under the previous arrangements. To provide for this, the Secretary of State's approvals of four of the five standards do not enter into force at once. Details of the five approvals are as follows:
Approval No. 82/001S. Specification for plugs for use with British Telecommunications jacks: enters into force on 14th October 1982.Approval No. 82/002S. Apparatus for connection to British Telecommunications networks—General safety requirements: enters into force on 15th October 1984.Approval No. 82/0003S. General requirements for apparatus to be connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network: enters into force on 15th October 1984.Approval No. 82/004S. Requirement for simple extension telephones: enters into force on 18th April 1983.Approval No. 82/005S. Requirements for data modems for use on the Public Switched Telephone Network: enters into force on 17th October 1983.In carrying out its work of approving subscriber's apparatus, the British Approvals Board for Telecommunications will adhere to a memorandum of agreement with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry. I have arranged for copies of this memorandum and of the five approvals under section 16(1) of the British Telecommunications Act 1981 to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.