§ Mr. AllenTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those cable companies franchised and licensed by(a) Oftel and (b) the Independent Television Commission stating, in each case, whether the company has reached its most recent agreed milestone; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian TaylorCompliance with the obligations contained in Telecommunications Act licences issued by my Department is a matter for the Director General of Telecommunications. I have therefore asked the director to write to the hon. Member with details of the 125 cable franchisees which have been licensed under both broadcasting and telecommunications legislation and whether they have complied with their most recent build obligations. In addition to these franchises, the ITC has 487W awarded three further franchises which have yet to be licensed under the Telecommunications Act 1984. The franchises for west Kent, Blackpool and Fylde, and southern-east Anglia have been awarded to Eurobell, SBC Cablecomms and Cambridge Cable respectively.