Ref: 20/02
Date: 10 April 2002

Three new members to the Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Disabled and Elderly People (DIEL) have been appointed today.

DIEL, established under the Telecommunications Act 1984, provides advice on issues affecting telecommunications consumers who are older or disabled.

Announcing the appointments David Edmonds said:

"DIEL carries out excellent work and provides invaluable advice on equality of access to telecoms services. The three new members appointed today will enhance the committee's existing wide range of expertise."

DIEL Chairman Bob Twitchin said:

"There is important work to do over the next two years in the run up to OFCOM. DIEL is strengthened by these new appointments."

The new DIEL members are Gretel Jones, Katherine Phipps and Hillary Smith.

Notes to Editors

1. Gretel Jones is Utilities and Consumer Affairs Policy Officer at Age Concern England. She brings to DIEL valuable experience of issues affecting older people. Katherine Phipps is an Access Consultant with JMU Access Partnership in Edinburgh. She has carried out numerous disability access audits of buildings in Scotland and delivered disability and deaf awareness training. Hillary Smith, a trustee of Disability Wales, has been involved in setting up a disability forum in Denbighshire that provides information and training to people with disabilities. Appointments have been made after an open competition.

2. The Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Disabled and Elderly People (DIEL) is one of the Advisory Committees on Telecommunications (ACTs) set up under the Telecommunications Act 1984. New legislation is expected to abolish Oftel and the ACTs and create a new Office of Communications (OFCOM).

3. Information on DIEL and the other ACTs that provide advice on issues affecting telecommunications consumers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and small businesses can be obtained by contacting the ACT Secretariat on 020 7634 5301. More information about DIEL can be found on its section of the ACT website at www.acts.org.uk/diel/default.htm