§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals exist for the development of a major programme for a national fibre optics communications network aimed at implementing optoelectronic research; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthDevelopment of the national telecommunications networks is a matter for the telecommunications operators in response to market demands.
§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support he has given for trial schemes to test optoelectronic systems and products in Britain; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthI have recently licensed British Telecommunications plc to run, in collaboration with equipment manufacturers, a technical trial in Bishop's Stortford to test telecommunications delivery systems based on optical fibre.