idb wrote on Jan 21^st, 2008 at 7:33pm:

No.

As you probably know by now, you were subjected to political points-scoring of a very juvenile nature between the 3 or 4 MPs (out of the 640 or so) who stayed that late.

Heinz wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2008 at 9:38am:

More significantly, a failure to focus on the key issue - the breach of the GMS contract represented by revenue sharing - caused the discussion to be diluted.

There are many other important issues around use of 0844 and 0845 numbers where it is the cost of calling, rather than the illegaility of revenue sharing, that is the key issue. The issue of waiting on hold is also important. All of these are important and connected, but sometimes need to be addressed separately.

Whilst overall we wanted a lot more to be achieved, we cannot say that nothing happened. We now need the media to pick up and repeat some of what was said, whilst we see what may be done through whatever the DH is actually going to do.

House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 14 Jan 2008 (pt 0047)

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080114/text/80114w0...

NHS: Telephone Services

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which (a) organisations and (b) individuals his Department intends to consult on the possibility of introducing a new three-digit number for urgent care services, as stated in his Department’s NHS next stage review interim report, Our NHS, Our Future; [175029]

(2) how the NHS Next Stage Review will take forward the exploration of the possibility of introducing a single three-digit number for urgent care services, as described on page four of his Department’s document Urgent care update: Key areas highlighted by the Direction of Travel consultation and other work; [175031]

(3) whether a new three-digit number for urgent care services, as referred to in his Department’s NHS next stage review interim report, Our NHS, Our Future, will be delivered through NHS Direct. [175033]

Mr. Bradshaw: As part of the national health service next stage review, local clinical pathway groups are considering ways to improve the public’s understanding of how to access urgent care services. As the interim report of the review, published on 4 October, made clear, there may be benefit in adopting a three-digit number as a single point of access to urgent care. Various options are being considered.

The NHS Direct telephone advice service, which currently operates on 0845 4647, will shortly have to change its number. While it could move to an 03 number, we have had a preliminary discussion with Ofcom about the possibility of securing a three-digit number for NHS Direct. Any proposal would need to follow Ofcom’s normal process for consultation with the public.

Rob Marris has achieved answers from many government departments to his circular question about how many “0845 and similar cost telephone numbers” are being used

Some of the answers given do include 0870 and even 0800, so the point is probably understood.

The index in Hansard is at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080128/index/80128-...

Answers for each department are given in alphbetical order by topic, this is “Departmental Telephone Numbers”.

A summary of the results for 28 January 2008:

1. Zero - DCMS, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
2. Clear answer given – DCLG:1; DfID:1; FCO:2; DEFRA:15; Transport:31; Home: 37; Exchequer:1222
3. Partial answer (there are more) – Defence:0; DCSF:17; Justice:111;  Health:5 (this is worth reading)
4. No answer yet: Cabinet Office, DBERR, DIUS, DWP

When we have the full set, there must be pressure for action - maybe new topics are needed.

David

House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 28 Jan 2008 (pt 0020)

Departmental Telephone Service
Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 0845 or similar cost telephone numbers are used by (a) her Department and (b) related departmental bodies for public access to services. [179202]

Mr. Byrne: The information requested is shown in the following table.

Number Purpose Type
0870 521 0410
Passport advice line
Phone

0870 240 8090
Passport advice line (Text Phone Service)
Minicon

0870 243 4477
Passport inquiries for High Street Partners
Phone

0870 243 1902
Passport Complaints
Phone

0870 909 0778
Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure dispute line
Phone

0870 125 1256
Siemens Business Services Query Letters
Phone

0870 909 0844
Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure application line
Phone

0870 909 0223
Criminal Records Bureau Welsh Language Line
Phone

0870 909 0344
Criminal Records Bureau
Minicon

0870 241 4680
Home Office's mailing house, Prolog
Phone

0870 241 4786
Home Office's mailing house, Prolog
Fax

0870 220 2000
TOGETHER (advice line for practitioners on tackling antisocial behaviour).
Phone

0870 336 9031
Contact Private Office to Jacqui Smith
Fax

0870 336 9032
Contact Private Office to Lord West
Fax

0870 336 9033
Contact Private Office to Vernon Coaker
Fax

0870 336 9034
Contact Private Office to Liam Byrne
Fax

0870 336 9035
Contact Private Office to Tony McNulty
Fax

0870 336 9036
Contact Private Office to Meg Hillier
Fax

0870 336 9048
Contact Parliamentary Team
Fax

0870 336 9045
Contact Ministers' Special Advisers
Fax

0870 336 9041
Contact Private Office Management Support Unit
Fax

0870 336 9037
Contact Permanent Secretary's Office
Fax

0870 243 0100
Security Industry Authority
Phone

0845 010 6677
Employers1 Helpline
Phone

0845 039 8002
PROSPECTS helpline
Phone

0845 601 2298
BIA Evidence and Enquiry line
Phone

0870 240 3781
Immigration Enquiry Bureau (enforcement and removals -recorded message only)
Phone


28 Jan 2008 : Column 95W

28 Jan 2008 : Column 96W
0845 300 2002
Independent Police Complaints Commission
Phone

0870 909 0811
Criminal Records Bureau General Inquiries
Phone

0870 909 0822
Criminal Records Bureau Registration Information Line
Phone

0845 602 1739
Enquiries about asylum support applications
Phone

0870 606 7766
Immigration Enquiry Bureau
Phone

0870 241 0645
Requests for immigration application forms
Phone

0845 010 5200
Nationality telephone enquiries
Phone

0870 521 0224
BIA Work Permits Literature Order Line
Phone

0845 600 0914
Asylum Support Customer Contact Centre
Phone

0870 241 6523
Enquiries about the work of the BIA Complaints Unit and advice to callers about how to complain
Phone

House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 28 Jan 2008 (pt 0028)

Departmental Telephone Services
Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many 0845 or similar cost telephone numbers are used by (a) his Department and (b) related departmental bodies for public access to services. [179375]

Maria Eagle: My Department has 58 0845 telephone numbers and 53 0870 numbers which are in use for the public.

The Department does not keep a central record for related departmental bodies.

idb wrote on Jan 21^st, 2008 at 7:33pm:

Confirmed, video link is: http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/VideoPlayer.aspx?meetingId=789&rel=ok

Forward into the video to 7h 48m 50s for the start of the debate.

Text transcript of the debate can be found here:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080121/debtext/8012...

Order Book Part 2

76
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he expects Ofcom to issue its review of charges of calls made to 0870 numbers; for what reason the review has been delayed; and if he will make a statement.