§ Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much financial support has been given by his Department, and is planned for the future, to promote Videotext, Teletex and other value added network services; and what have been the consequences of this support for British Telecom.
§ Mr. ButcherThe Department of Trade and Industry administers a number of schemes and programmes under which financial support is provided for the development of hardware, software and data bases, much of which is capable of direct or indirect application for value added services. Under these schemes and programmes financial support in excess of £4.5 million has been given over the past two financial years. This is expected to increase considerably in the next financial years. This is expected to increase considerably in the next financial year. For example, there is a Teletex programme with a budget of £4 million. Many of the more than 200 value added services currently being offered use apparatus whose development has been assisted by the Department. Whilst it is impossible to distinguish between use of the public telecommunication systems for the provision of value added services and other services, the liberalisation of their provision has generated increased revenues for British Telecommunications whilst increasing consumer choice.