British Telecom Industrial Dispute

That this House notes that the management of British Telecom have chosen to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Telecommunications Act 1984, which facilitated its privatisation, by prolonging its industrial dispute with the Society of Telecom Executives, which has now been running for over nine months and has now escalated to a strike ballot of the company's managers; recognises that the dispute will have long term adverse effects on the service that British Telecom is offering its customers; seriously questions whether those who live in London, including honourable Members, can continue to plan the reprinting of letterheads on the basis that British Telecom's renumbering will take place on 6th May, as has been publicly announced; further recognises the crucial importance of the efficient functioning of the telephone service in the capital to the social and economic health of the country as a whole; and calls on the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to use his influence to help resolve the dispute as soon as possible.