§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when consultation took place with consumer groups between 20 January and 2 March on the decision to remove the provisions concerning telecommunications and water industries from the Utilities Bill; and what responses were received; [113570]
(2) which consumer groups were consulted on the decision to remove the provisions concerning telecommunications and water industries from the Utilities Bill between 20 January and 2 March. [113571]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 8 March 2000]: Both the National Consumer Council and the Consumers Association made representations to the Department.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list(a) the meetings and contacts his Department has had with the telecommunications industry in connection with the Utilities Bill between 20 January and 2 March, (b) the telecommunications companies involved and (c) the occasions on which Ministers from his Department attended; [113568]
(2) what representations his Department received on behalf of the telecommunications industries between 20 January and 2 March in connection with the Utilities Bill; and if he will list the telecommunications companies involved. [113569]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 8 March 2000]: A number of letter have been received from the Other Licensed Operators (OLO) group and from individual companies including BT. The OLO group comprises Atlantic Telecom, Eurobell, Kingston Group, ntl, Telewest, COLT, Cable and Wireless, Energis, GTS, Global Crossing, Global One, Hermes, MCl/Worldcom, Norweb Telecom, Thus, Teleglobe, Telia, Telinco, Telstra, Viatel, Dolphin, One2One, Orange and Vodaphone.
Officials of the DTI met the OLO group on 15 February for a regular liaison meeting and the Utilities Bill was discussed. No DTI Ministers attended.