§ Lord Dean of Beswickasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they think the role of the Director-General of Oftel helps or hinders open access to networks, fair pricing and provides a wider choice of networks.
§ Lord Fraser of CarmyllieThe role of the Director-General of Telecommunications is defined by the Telecommunications Act 1984, and in particular by the statutory duties placed on him in Section 3 of that Act. Prominent among these are his duties to promote the interests of consumers and to maintain and promote effective competition in telecommunications. The full benefits of competition will only be realised for consumers if effective competition is established in the provision of telecommunications networks as well as in services. The Government's policy on the most appropriate regulatory framework for promoting network infrastructure competition, and for providing access to networks, was set out in its Command Paper published in November 1994 entitledCreating the Superhighways of the Future Developing Broadband Communications in the UK (Cm 2734).