§ Mr. Nealeasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements there are for private sector suppliers of private branch exchanges to obtain approval for their own products and sell them direct to their customers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ButcherI announced on 12 December 1983 at columns303–4 an interim approval scheme for certain key telephone systems. Testing under that scheme is now under way and, with the arrangement for streamlining the approvals procedures which I announced on 9 April at column 9 becoming established, there is now scope for a new scheme covering larger call routing apparatus.
I am, therefore, announcing today a further interim approval scheme, under which suppliers may apply, prior to the adoption of comprehensive standards for call routing apparatus, for approval of private branch exchanges for connection to the British Telecommunications public switched telephone network. Suppliers wishing to obtain approval for their apparatus should apply to the Department of Trade and Industry. The procedure to be followed for submitting such applications, and other relevant information, is set out in a statement which has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.