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DHL and Federal Express

Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what discussions have taken place with DHL and Federal Express about the privatisation of the post and parcel service ; (2) what discussions have taken place with DHL and Federal Express on breaking the Post Office's letter monopoly.

Mr. Leigh [holding answer 3 December 1991] : None.

Telecommunications

Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the technological innovations developed by the United Kingdom telecommunications industry since 1984.

Mr. Redwood : I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 3 December, Official Report, columns 97-98.

The following is a list of some of the areas where there have been innovations by United Kingdom industry in products and services since the privatisation of British Telecom :

Multi-function telephones

Cellular and wireless telephony

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)

Packet switching

Slow-scan video

Wide area radiopaging

Electronic funds transfer at point of sale (EFTPOS)

Video-conferencing

Payphones on aircraft and trains

Electronic mail

Voice messaging

Centrex services

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Column 180

DEFENCE

Bowman Combat Net Radio

Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the Bowman combat net radio programme.

Mr. Alan Clark : Project Bowman will provide the new combat radio system for the armed services to replace the current CLANSMAN family of radios. Bowman will link with computerised command and control systems and the Ptarmigan trunk communication network to provide a flexible battlefield communications system stretching from individual soldier to senior commander.

An invitation to tender for the competitive project Definition phase was issued on 31 October. Bowman is a major opportunity for the defence electronics industry and could be worth in excess of £1 billion.

NATO

Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what implications there are for the structure of British forces as a result of the Rome declaration of the NATO countries.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : The future structure of our armed forces was developed in the light of the work in NATO on new force structures. It is in line with the new strategic concept agreed in Rome last month and with the declaration issued following that meeting. Our plans are outlined in the 1991 Statement on the Defence Estimates and in the subsequent paper, "Britain's Army for the 90s".

Hercules II

Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the acquisition by the RAF of the Hercules II aircraft ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Clark : It is our intention to procure off-the-shelf replacement aircraft for the RAF transport fleet around the turn of the century. The Hercules II aircraft would be a possible contender in the competition.

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