§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what support his Department has given in the past to encourage teleworking and telecottages; and if he will make a statement on his plans for any future policy initiatives in this area.
§ Mr. SainsburyTeleworking, telecottages and home-working have attracted widespread interest in the idea that information technology can enable people to work from remote rural locations.
The DTI has supported a number of research programmes studying the technology, management and human factors related to teleworking. As part of its own alternative working strategy the DTI has run a small project involving staff working from home.