HC Deb 23 July 1982 vol 28 cc335-6W
Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many companies, of those which have applied for liberalisation of telecommunications equipment, have applied for equipment (a) manufactured in the United Kingdom by wholly-owned British companies, (b) manufactured in the United Kingdom for subsidiaries of foreign companies and (c) manufactured outside the United Kingdom; and if he will list all those companies in (a), (b) and (c) above, whose applications have been approved.

Mr. Butcher

[pursuant to his reply, 12 July 1982, c.260]: More than 10,000 items of telecommunications apparatus have been approved by British Telecommunications—BT—for private supply for connection to its networks and I assume that my hon. Friend's question relates to apparatus supplied by companies which have applied under the two interim schemes under which the Department of Industry gives approval for telecommunications apparatus to be privately supplied for connection to the BT networks.

Twenty three applicants responded to the Department of Industry's first interim approval scheme for extension telephones announced on 16 November 1981—[Vol. 13, c.58.] Six applied in respect of apparatus I understand to be substantially manufactured in the United Kingdom. The remainder applied in respect of apparatus which I understand would have been imported.

Seven applicants were invited to submit a total of 10 items of apparatus for priority testing under this first scheme. Three approvals have so far been given: two are for apparatus I understand to be substantially manufactured in the United Kingdom and two are imported equipment. The companies whose products have been given approval are Astral Telecom Ltd. and Storacall Telephone Answering Systems Ltd.

Applications under the second interim scheme announced on 27 May—[Vol. 24, c.363.64.]—are still being received and at this stage it is not possible to give total numbers of items manufactured in the United Kingdom submitted for approval. One item has so far been approved under the second scheme; I understand that it is manufactured in the United Kingdom by Associated Business Systems Ltd.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many companies have applied under current procedures to his Department for liberalisation of telecommunications equipment for sale and installation in the United Kingdom alongside British Telecom telephone equipment; how many applications have been approved; how many rejected; and how many are pending.

Mr. Butcher

[pursuant to his reply, 12 July 1982, c. 260]: Interim arrangements for the approval of extension telephones were announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Information Technology on 16 November 1981.—[Vol. 13, c. 28.] Twenty-three applications, involving 112 items of apparatus, were received and seven applications relating to a total of 10 items of apparatus were selected for priority testing. Approvals have so far been granted to two companies for three items of equipment altogether. No applications have been rejected. Interim arrangements for the approval of discrete models, also announced on 16 November, have so far resulted in the approval of 16 items.

Applications not selected for priority testing are now being considered under an extended scheme announced on 27 May.—[Vol. 24, c. 363.64.] One application, originally submitted under the first scheme in respect of a repertory dialler has so far been selected under this extended scheme; this product has recently received approval.

Applications for the extended scheme are still being received and it is not possible to give precise figures of the number of applications at present.

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