§ Mr. AllenTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government current and future policy regarding portability of phone numbers between BT and cable companies. [17126]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorResponsibility for number portability falls to the Director General of Telecommunications. He and I agree that the introduction of portability is essential to the development of effective competition. Oftel has made proposals for a regime to govern portability, and I expect progress to be announced shortly.