Telecom Advisory Committees (Hansard, 6 February 1989)

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how the membership of telecom advisory committees is decided.

§ Mr. Forth
The chairman and members of the four national advisory committees for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, are appointed by the Secretary of State and those of the two specialist committees for the elderly and disabled and for small businesses by the Director General of Telecommunications. In appointing members to the committees the Secretary of State and director general aim to have a balanced membership representing the interests of all telecommunications users and of the special needs of small businesses and the disabled and elderly people.

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the role of telecom advisory committees.

§ Mr. Forth
The common duty of all the advisory committees is to advise the Director General of Telecommunications on telecommunication matters affecting the interests of people which the committee was established to represent. Matters may either be referred to the committee by the director general or the committee may decide to offer advice on its own initiative. The national committees for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, also have a specific role in handling consumer complaints where the consumer has been unable to resolve the matter directly with the industry.

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many telecom advisory committees have been established.

§ Mr. Forth
There are six advisory committees on telecommunications in total. These are made up of four national committees—one for each of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland—and two specialist committees, one to represent the needs of small businesses and one for the disabled and elderly people.
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§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will name the chairpersons of telecom advisory committees and provide a contact address for each.

§ Mr. Forth
The chairmen and contact address of the advisory committees are as follows:

Committee Address

English Advisory Committee on Telecommunications Mr. H. R. Hutton, Atlantic House, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1N 2HQ

Welsh Advisory Committee on Telecommunications Mr. T. D. Lynch, Caradog House, St. Andrews Place, Cardiff CF1 3BE

Scottish Advisory Committee on Telecommunications Mr. W. K. Begg, Alhambra House, 45 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6AT

Northern Ireland Committee on Telecommunications Mr. J. J. Eccles, 3rd Floor, Chamber of Commerce House, 22 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7PU

The Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Disabled and Elderly People (DIEL) Mr. D. Hobman, Atlantic House Holborn Viaduct London EC1N 2HQ

The Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Small Businesses Mr. M. Ashton, Atlantic House, Holborn Viaduct, London EC 2HQ

Committee	Address
English Advisory Committee on Telecommunications	Mr. H. R. Hutton, Atlantic House, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1N 2HQ
Welsh Advisory Committee on Telecommunications	Mr. T. D. Lynch, Caradog House, St. Andrews Place, Cardiff CF1 3BE
Scottish Advisory Committee on Telecommunications	Mr. W. K. Begg, Alhambra House, 45 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6AT
Northern Ireland Committee on Telecommunications	Mr. J. J. Eccles, 3rd Floor, Chamber of Commerce House, 22 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7PU
The Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Disabled and Elderly People (DIEL)	Mr. D. Hobman, Atlantic House Holborn Viaduct London EC1N 2HQ
The Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Small Businesses	Mr. M. Ashton, Atlantic House, Holborn Viaduct, London EC 2HQ