§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his proposed charter for consumers will include a right for users of telephones to have a detailed breakdown of their bills if they so require; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. RedwoodAs a result of BT's £15 billion investment in its network since privatisation, 77 per cent. of BT's customers may now receive itemised bills. The service should be available to more than 90 per cent. of BT's customers by the end of 1995. All Mercury and cellular radio customers can already receive itemised bills.
The additional benefits to customers that will result from the Competition and Service (Utilities) Bill will depend on the final scope of the Bill and the specific regulations that are made under it.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the chairman of OFTEL concerning the need for British Telecom and other telephone service provider, to be able to justify in detail the bills they send to their customers and the programme for enabling detailed bills to be available in all areas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RedwoodBT invests £11 million every working day to extend services such as itemised billing to all its customers. I meet the Director General of OFTEL from time to time to discuss a wide range of telecommunications issues. He fully shares the Government's view of the importance of customers receiving accurate and properly detailed billing information.