HC Deb 19 June 1991 vol 193 c200W
Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider the need for radio amateurs to have to present equipment for type approval.

Mr. Redwood

Type approval is not considered appropriate for the amateur service as, in essence, it is to do with experimentation, self-training in communication and technical investigation. To require amateur equipment to be type approved would be unreasonably expensive and could stifle development.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Radiocommunications Agency will acquire a computerised and up-to-date database for type approval records.

Mr. Redwood

The Radiocommunications Agency, formerly the radiocommunications division of the DTI, has operated a computerised database for land mobile type approval records since 1983.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what circumstances account for the issue by the Radiocommunications Agency of a fact sheet on 16 May 1991, Ref. LPD/1/15, "All Parties Interested in Radio Car Alarms", quoting incorrect type approvals for vehicle security; how many letters he received pointing out the errors in the previous fact sheet; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Redwood

The Radiocommunications Agency has had a continuing publicity campaign to discourage the sale, installation and use of radio security alarms for vehicles which are not approved to the Department's performance specification.

The latest in a series of letters to the trade dated 16 May 1991, covering a list of type approved equipment, was issued because the previous letter on the subject dated 1 February 1990 needed to be brought up to date. The Department has no record of letters pointing out errors in the lists attached to the 1 February letter. Regrettably, however, some errors have come to light in the revised lists attached to the 16 May 1991 letter. The agency intends to reissue the lists shortly in a clearer form.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Radiocommunications Agency expects to reply to the faxes from Scope Marketing (Communications UK) Ltd., Totnes, of 25 April, 1, 14, 20 and 28 May.

Mr. Redwood

Replies to the faxes from Scope Marketing (Communications UK) Ltd. were sent on 16 May, 21 May and 7 June.