§ Mr. TimmsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if the deadline of 1 January 2000 set by the European Union for the implementation of carrier pre-selection will be achieved in the United Kingdom. [29001]
§ Mrs. RocheThe requirement to introduce carrier pre-selection arises from an amendment to the EC Interconnection Directive (97/33/EC), which has not yet been adopted. However, OFTEL and DTI are consulting industry and consumer bodies about the arrangements for UK implementation of carrier pre-selection within the time limits set out in the draft Directive. The Common Position currently requires the introduction of carrier pre-selection by 1 January 2000, but allows Member States to request a deferment of this obligation if they can prove that it would impose an excessive burden on certain organisations or classes of organisation.