§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Industry what evidence he possess of new jobs being created in the United Kingdom directly or mainly as a result of the Government's policy of liberalisation of sale and installation of telecommunications equipment.
§ Mr. Butcher[pursuant to his reply, 12 July 1982, c. 260.]: Quantitative evidence on this is almost inevitably uncertain and subjective. From discussions with industry, however, I am aware of numerous individual cases of job creation resulting or in prospect from liberalisation of the telecommunications monopoly. This is the result of such activities as new companies entering the industry, new technology and joint ventures with overseas companies. In due course the Mercury joint venture and the development of a more efficient and competitive telecommunications manufacturing industry as a consequence of liberalisation will also add to these numbers.