Internet (Hansard, 19 October 1998)

§ Mr. Cotter
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what role her Department is playing in the development of Internet technologies for small and medium-sized businesses. [52907]

§ Mrs. Roche
Many recent studies have emphasised the crucial importance of new technologies to the competitiveness of smaller firms. Within DTI, we have a comprehensive package of programmes to encourage greater awareness and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), including the Internet, by both business and individuals in the UK. The ISI Programme for Business places particular emphasis on offering access and awareness opportunities for SMEs at locations throughout the UK, and on fostering the development of innovative multimedia products and services, frequently involving Internet technologies, 1027W through award schemes such as the Multimedia Demonstrator Programme and Information Society Creativity Awards.

§ Mr. Nigel Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of charges for local telephone calls on the development and use of internet services. [54643]

§ Mrs. Roche
Competition is already delivering lower call charges in the UK and, with liberalisation across the European Union, this is spreading across Europe too. The charging of services should not necessarily be regarded as a disincentive to access the Internet. It is not unusual in countries where there is no usage charge for people to be unable to access the Internet because some users remain permanently connected. Internet Service Providers have only a finite number of modems to which customers may connect, so customers who remain permanently connected can block access by others. Having a modest charge for the local telephone call required to connect to the Internet should therefore inconvenience only those who remain connected for long periods even when not actively using the Internet. In turn, this should help ensure that the majority are not prevented from accessing the Internet for extended periods of time.