§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what investigations she has undertaken into the prices charged by telecommunications companies to United Kingdom Internet providers for leasing data circuits to other European countries. [24007]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 19 January 1998]: The Department has not conducted any specific investigations into the prices charged by telecoms companies to United Kingdom Internet providers for leasing data circuits to other European countries, and neither has Oftel. I understand that Oftel has not received any representations about this matter, but that it would be happy to consider any such representation which it may receive.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she has with her European Union counterparts on(a) the Internet and (b) charges for telephone and data circuits between European countries. [24016]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 19 January 1998]: These issues are regularly discussed in the European Union Telecommunications Council. On 26 February I expect to chair discussion in the Council on:
a Commission communication on Globalisation and the Information Society, looking at international co-ordination of policies towards the Internet; anda Commission communication on Member States' implementation of European Union telecommunications legislation. including the directive on Leased Lines.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she has had with her United States counterpart on the subject of the Internet with particular reference to delays in reorganising the domain name system. [24004]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 19 January 1998]: I and my officials have remained in close contact with the US administration on the future governance of the Internet Domain Name System. We have also supported European Commission action in this area. Much of the delay in reaching a satisfactory outcome to this issue is due to the need to ensure a robust solution which fully represents the interests of all classes of Internet stakeholders in all regions of the world, and anticipates future needs.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the effect that the diversion of intra-European Internet traffic to the United States has on the United Kingdom Internet industry. [24015]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 19 Janaury 1998]: Industry views are divided, both as to whether the present traffic routing adopted by Internet service providers in the UK has a harmful effect on their competitiveness, and 655W whether it is caused by the high prices for leased lines to European destinations compared to trans-Atlantic rates. The presence in the United States of the majority of websites in the world makes it necessary for service providers throughout Europe to lease lines to the US, spare capacity on which can be cheaply used to access each others' networks. I do however share industry's concern at high intra-European leased line prices. I am confident that the full liberalisation of the European Union telecoms market from this month will bring about a rapid and significant fall in these prices.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what are her priorities in respect of policies on the Internet during the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Union. [24002]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 19 January 1998]: I attach very strong importance to ensuring that we achieve an environment in the European Union which will foster the development of the Internet. I aim to take this agenda forward during the UK Presidency through discussion of the issues of converging technologies, on Globalisation and the Information Society and on the EU Internet Action Plan.