HC Deb 06 December 1995 vol 268 cc292-3W
Mr. Trend

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Telecommunications Council on 27 November. [4941]

Mr. Ian Taylor

I represented the United Kingdom at the Telecommunications Council held in Brussels on 27 November.

The Council reached political agreement on a decision on a series of guidelines for Trans-European telecommunications networks, and on a Decision for a 65 million ecu programme to stimulate development of the European multi-media content industry—INFO 2000 programme—though in both cases adoption of a common position awaits the European Parliament's opinion. The council also adopted a number of items without discussion, and details of these are listed in the Council press release which is deposited in the Library of the House. These included the final adoption of the resubmitted directive applying open network provision to voice telephony.

The presidency gave a progress report on discussion of a draft directive on interconnection in telecommunications. A policy debate followed on two draft Commission directives on mobile and personal communications, and full competition in telecommunications markets. The Council agreed unanimous conclusions calling on the Commission to take account of the positions expressed by the Council and member states before adopting the directives.

There was also a policy debate on a draft directive on the development of Community postal services, and on a draft Commission notice on the application of the treaty competition rules to the postal sector. The Council agreed unanimous conclusions on the draft Notice calling on the Commission to delay its publication until agreement had been reached on the directive, but to publish by the end of 1996.

The Commission made brief presentations on: two draft directives on licensing of telecommunications services, and to adapt the open network provision directives 90/387/EEC and 92/44/EEC to a competitive environment; two draft decisions on satellite personal communications, and on a programme for the promotion of multi-lingualism in the information society, and on a Communication on directories in a competitive environment. The Commission also reported on the progress of multilateral negotiations in the World Trade Organisation on basic telecommunications.

No votes were taken on the substantive items in the agenda of the Council.

Mr. Barnes

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Telecoms Council, held on 27 November giving details of all votes and all decisions which were determined by unanimity or without dissension. [1971]

Mr. Ian Taylor

[holding answer 4 December 1995]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Windsor and Maidenhead (Mr. Trend) on the outcome of the Telecommunications Council. Details of votes on all points are recorded in the Council press release referred to in my reply.