§ 32. Mr. PopeTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps his Department is taking to promote the competitiveness of United Kingdom manufacturers and suppliers of communications networks and services. [7921]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorMy Department promotes the competitiveness of the communications industry through a series of initiatives, many in close co-operation with trade associations. These initiatives tackle a number of issues such as skill shortages, quality, and the use of new applications of technology to enhance productivity. In addition, we continue to pursue a licensing policy for telecommunications operators which has created one of the most competitive telecom services markets in the world. This has brought benefits both to consumers and to the industry itself since many UK companies which have proved themselves to be competitive here are now taking advantage of opportunities in expanding overseas markets.