§ 19. Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the growth in telecommunications since 1984.
§ Mr. LilleyThe United Kingdom has one of the fastest growing telecommunications markets in the world. The number of connections on the fixed network has grown by over 25 per cent. since 1984, and the volume of calls has increased by more than 60 per cent. in the same period. The growth in mobile services is even more spectacular, and there are now more than 1.1 million cellular radio subscribers. The United Kingdom equipment market has grown by over 60 per cent. since 1984, and the range of choice has increased substantially, and the United Kingdom has by far the largest value added services market in Europe.
§ 2. Mr. WattsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on the Government's telecommunications policies.
§ Mr. LilleyI set out the Government's proposals for liberalising the United Kingdom telecommunications market in my statement to the House on 5 March. My aim is to build on the policies of competition, choice and private enterprise that have been so successful, and to create the most open and dynamic telecommunications market in the world. The White Paper, "Competition and Choice: Telecommunications Policy for the 1990s", is available in the Library for Members who may wish to study the proposals in more depth.
§ 30. Mr. Charles WardleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effect on consumer choice of the introduction of equal access, outlined in his Department's White Paper on telecommunications policy.
§ Mr. LilleyThe introduction of equal access will widen consumer choice substantially. It will make it simpler for consumers to select which operator carries their long-distance calls. They will be able to choose the operator providing the best or cheapest service.