§ 29. Mr. WallerTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with representatives of the United States Government about opportunities for British telecommunications companies to compete in the American market. [16465]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorThe Government strongly support the efforts of United Kingdom telecommunications companies to enter the United States and other markets, and we take every opportunity to press for their interests.
My officials have regular contacts with United States regulatory authorities to pursue policy issues of interest to UK companies. Most recently, I spoke to the US Secretary of Commerce in the margins of the G7 conference in Brussels on 25 to 26 February to get across the need for the US to support worldwide liberalisation and removal of restrictions on foreign ownership of US telecommunications operators. I am pleased to say that, at that conference, Vice-President Gore confirmed that they would be pursuing both objectives.