Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire, Conservative)

I appreciate this opportunity to debate clause 52, which deals with a large number of the measures that are brought into force by virtue of the general conditions and in line with the universal service directive. Can the Minister run us through how he proposes the emergency call numbers system should be introduced? I note that Oftel's publication of general conditions proposes that both 999 and 112 should be introduced as emergency call numbers and therefore made available as such over the network. Is it the intention that both of those numbers will be used for the indefinite future as emergency call numbers in an entirely interoperable way, or is there some intention to move from 999 to 112?

Mr Stephen Timms (Minister of State (e-Commerce & Competitiveness), Department of Trade and Industry; East Ham, Labour)

There is no such intention. That is clearly an important matter, telephone numbers being essential to the functioning of a switched network. I shall drop the hon. Gentleman a line, copied to each member of the Committee, to explain how we envisage the progress of arrangements for emergency numbers.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 52 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 53 ordered to stand part of the Bill.