HC Deb 20 July 1988 vol 137 c607W
Mr. Oppenheim

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will invite the Director General of the Office of Telecommunications to review the activities and performance of British Telecom's international products and overseas division as part of its revision of British Telecom's price control formula, in view of the implications of the operating losses of this division for United Kingdom consumers of British Telecom's services;

(2) if he will invite the Director General of the Office of Telecommunications to seek from British Telecom, as part of its revision of British Telecom's price control formula, a published breakdown of the activities and financial results of its international products and overseas division.

Mr. Butcher

No. It is for the director general to determine how he excercises his functions under the Telecommunications Act 1984. His statement of 7 July explained the factors he had taken into account in reaching his view on BT's future price control formula.

The BT report and accounts for 1988 include information on the results and activities of these two divisions. The Director General of Telecommunications has powers to require BT to provide him with such further information as he may require.