§ Mr. Hunterasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration is being given to the possibility of laying an order under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967 which would outlaw the manufacture, sale, leasing, keeping and importation of cordless telephones.
§ Mr. ButcherI plan to lay an order under section 7 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967 restricting the import, sale, and manufacture and possession of unapproved cordless telephones within the next two months.
The open sale of this appraratus, which it is unlawful to use, has led to interference to authorised radio services, including, most worryingly, to emergency services.
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§ Mr. Hunterasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether there is any evidence that cordless telephones and the frequencies on which they operate cause interference to emergency services.
§ Mr. ButcherThere is clear evidence that the use of unapproved cordless telephones causes interference to other radio services, including those used by the emergency services. Where unapproved apparatus is not well designed, it generates harmonic frequencies and this, coupled with the power used, can interfere with authorised services on a large number of different frequencies.
The Department's radio investigation service has records of a number of incidents of interference to police and fire services' radio systems as a result of the use of unapproved cordless telephones, and to a radio telemetry system used by a water authority for monitoring water levels. Other radio services to have suffered similar interference include local and water authority mobile systems, those used by the Automobile Association and other business users, and those operated by the Ministry of Defence. While these are not emergency services as such, the use of radio by this kind of agency is often related to emergencies, some of which involve safety of life. The number of instances of interference is rising in line with the increased use of unapproved equipment.
§ Mr. Hunterasked the Secretary of State for Trade and industry why he has not yet allocated frequencies for cordless telephones with a range of approximately one mile.
§ Mr. ButcherRadio apparatus must meet specifications laid down to avoid interference. In general, the greater the range of any radio apparatus, the smaller the number of users that can be accommodated on any set of frequencies. The present specifications were drawn up to allow a reasonable density of use in urban areas and the range had to be limited to achieve this. Nevertheless, we recognise that there may be a demand for instruments with a rather longer range than the present limits, and will be discussing with manufacturers whether a suitable specification can be drawn up, and if so whether a suitable frequency allocation can be made. Existing unapproved apparatus is not suitable for this purpose.
§ Mr. Hunterasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of any prosecutions brought, and penalties imposed, where cordless telephones have been proved to have caused interference to emergency services.
§ Mr. ButcherA successful prosecution was brought following interference to fire brigade radio communications as a result of the use of unapproved cordless telephone. The defendant was fined £50, orderd to pay £20 costs o my Department, and ordered to forfeit the equipment. In a case of interference to a radio telemetry system used by a water authority for monitoring water levels, a defendant was fined £200, ordered to pay £60 costs, and ordered to forfeit the equipment.