British Telecom Cable Contract Cancellations

That this House, expressing alarm at the sudden and arbitary cancellation of long-standing cable contracts by the privatised British Telecom Corporation, believes that this action threatens the stability and future survival of the British cable-making industry, with grave consequences for the employees, the country's balance of payments, and ability to compete in Europe as 1992 approaches; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry urgently to seek the revocation of the contract suspensions by British Telecom prior to an inquiry and report to this House.