Director General of Telecommunications (Hansard, 23 March 1998)

§ Mrs. Beckett

I have today appointed Mr. David Edmonds as Director General of Telecommunications from 1 April 1998.

In recent years there has been significant change in the telecommunications market. There are now more than 350 individually licensed telecommunications operators in the UK and competition is developing rapidly in all areas of the market. The rate of change is set to increase in this already fast-moving, international arena with the convergence of telecommunications, broadcasting and information technology. The Government wish to promote the further development of competition and continue to encourage innovation in services and technology. I wished therefore to appoint someone to this 79W important post who had direct experience of managing significant change and of working in a competitive business environment. I believe that Mr. Edmonds is that person and I feel sure he will do an excellent job.

Mr. Edmonds has combined a successful career in both business and the public sector. He began his career in 1966 as a civil servant and, having risen to Under Secretary, left the Department of the Environment in 1984 to become the Chief Executive of The Housing Corporation. In 1991, Mr. Edmonds joined the Natwest Group and was appointed Managing Director of Group Central Services in 1995. From July 1996, he also had personal responsibility for co-ordinating the Group's preparations for European Monetary Union. Mr. Edmonds is also the chairman of CRISIS, the national charity for the single homeless.

I would like also to take this opportunity to reiterate my appreciation of the major contribution Mr. Don Cruickshank has made over the past five years as Director General. He has developed the regulatory regime in the demanding context of a period of enormous change in telecommunications, and in so doing has played a key part in ensuring that the UK is very well-placed to benefit from the opportunities of the Information Age.