An interesting question and misleading answer are found here
Quote:

There is no need for a systematic assesment to understand how revenue sharing works. Whether the benefit is taken in cash or in discounted services is of little consequence. If no benefit is being taken then the Department (and thereby the tax-payer) is being "ripped -off". The only guidance that is needed is about how to stop using revenue sharing numbers.

House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 29 Jan 2009 (pt 0037)

Departmental Telephone Services

Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what use (a) his Department and (b) service providers under contract to his Department make of (i) 0844 and 0845 telephone numbers and (ii) revenue-sharing telephone numbers for calls from members of the public; for which services such numbers are used; what prefixes are used for revenue-sharing numbers; how much revenue has accrued from revenue-sharing numbers in each of the last five years; what consideration his Department has given to introducing 03-prefixed telephone numbers for calls to all such services; and if he will make a statement. [247336]

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Information on the use of 0844 and 0845 numbers by service providers to the department can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The DCSF does not participate in revenue share schemes associated with non-geographic telephone numbers and therefore derives no revenue from the use of these numbers. The Department does use non-geographic telephone numbers such as 0870 and 0845 for its public inquiry line and other entry points. However, the Department has never received any income from the use of these numbers and does not offer refunds to callers. It's important to note that, in accordance with Central Office of Information (COI) advice, in most cases the Department offers alternative non-telephone methods of contact such as email and letter.

The Department is in discussion with the COI to investigate, along with alternatives, the use of 03 numbers as replacements.

The Department and its service providers use the following 0845 numbers. We do not have any 0844 numbers. The total quantity of telephone numbers can change as services are introduced or closed.

Service provider


Headship Information Line
0845 716 5136
Information in connection with national headship training programmes

Prolog
0845 6022260
DCSF publications helpline

Fast Track Helpline
0845 6015921
Queries from Fast Track teachers and head teachers

Fast Track recruitment helpline
0845 0581066
Teachers applying to join the Fast Track Teaching programme

Teacher information line
0845 6000991
Advice on training opportunities and support available

Return to teach line
0845 6000993
Advice on training opportunities and support available

National Strategies Helpdesk
0845 850 1444
To support the delivery of the national strategies

House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 27 Jan 2009 (pt 0023)

Departmental Telephone Services

Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what use (a) his Department and (b) service providers under contract to his Department make of (i) 0844 and 0845 telephone numbers and (ii) revenue-sharing telephone numbers for calls from members of the public; for which services such numbers are used; what prefixes are used for revenue-sharing numbers; how much revenue has accrued from revenue-sharing numbers in each of the last five years; what consideration his Department has given to introducing 03-prefixed telephone numbers for calls to all such services; and if he will make a statement. [247347]

Mr. Wills: From the central records available, the following information is provided.

The Land Registry use fourteen 0844 telephone numbers for public access to their services. The Land Registry no longer operate revenue sharing numbers and since February 2008 customers are charged only the local call rate from land lines for using the 0844 numbers. However, calls from mobile phones may cost more as the Department cannot control charges levied by individual service providers to their customers.

Details of the revenue generated to Land Registry in earlier years is as follows:

£
2004-05
0

2005-06
247,467

2006-07
221,543

2007-08
164,787

April to June 2008
(1)40,026

(1) This is a rebate figure from previous service providers which has been paid into this year's financial accounts.

In addition, the Department, and its service providers, but excluding Land Registry, operate forty nine 0845 numbers to provide a range of services to the public, including customer service enquiries and IT online support. Eighteen of these numbers, which are used by Her Majesty's Courts Service Bulk Payment Centre, have generated some revenue. At the time the numbers were introduced, calls from anywhere in the UK were charged at a local rate, making it no more expensive for people to access the service using the 0845 rather than the exchange number. The Centre now publish alternative numbers on their web pages giving customers a choice, as depending on the enquirer's call plan, 0845 may not now be the cheapest option. Details of income generated from these 0845 numbers is available for the last four years, and is as follows:

£
2004-05
745.91

2005-06
6543.76

2006-07
7684.14

2007-08
8075.97

Revenue sharing 0870 numbers have also been used for recruitment campaigns. However, it has been decided that these numbers will no longer be included in campaign advertising, and they are expected to be discontinued shortly when' a new system is introduced. The income generated from these numbers, since their introduction in February 2004, is £25,503.69. There is no annual breakdown available.

03 prefix telephone numbers are charged in the same fashion as 01 and 02 prefix numbers, but the call receiver does not receive revenue sharing. The Department, and its service providers, are considering switching to 03 prefix numbers.

House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 26 Jan 2009 (pt 0001)

Departmental Telephone Services

Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what use (a) his Department and (b) service providers under contract to his Department make of (i) 0844 and 0845 telephone numbers and (ii) revenue-sharing telephone numbers for calls from members of the public; for which services such numbers are used; what prefixes are used for revenue-sharing numbers; how much revenue has accrued from revenue-sharing numbers in each of the last five years; what consideration his Department has given to introducing 03-prefixed telephone numbers for calls to all such services; and if he will make a statement. [247349]

Mr. Hoon: The Department for Transport and its Executive agencies operate three 0845 numbers and one 0844 number. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency uses 0870 revenue-sharing numbers to provide access to nine public services. Information about these is set out as follows:

Number DfT or agency Purpose Revenue (yes/no)
0845 877 0877
DfT
Freight Best Practice helpline providing free information to promote operational efficiency
No

0845 750 4030
HA
Motorway and trunk road information line
No

0845 600 5977
VOSA
Garages hotline for checking MOT standards
No

0844 800 0819
VCA
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment helpline
No



0870 240 0009
DVLA
Allows the public to ask general driving licence inquiries
Yes

0870 240 0010
DVLA
Allows the public to ask general vehicle inquiries
Yes

0870 600 0301
DVLA
Allows the public to ask advice about health conditions and their effect on driver licensing
Yes

0870 241 1878
DVLA
Allows vocational drivers to seek advice regarding driver licensing
Yes

0870 850 4444
DVLA
Allows the licensing of vehicles over the telephone
Yes

0870 850 0007
DVLA
Allows customers to access information on DVLA's local office network
Yes

0870 608 0604
DVLA
‘Continuous registration' fine payment line
Yes

0870 850 2963
DVLA
Helpline for customers using our online driving licence service
Yes

0870 850 1074
DVLA
Allows customers to seek advice on the use of Smart Tachographs
Yes



Revenue information from the DVLA services is only available since January 2005. The figures are shown by calendar year.


£
2005
2,130,881

2006
2,328,307

2007
3,329,794

2008
3,047,304



In addition, the Driving Standards Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency have recently switched from 0870 to 0300 numbers for calls made to their contact centres. Revenue information about these is set out as follows:

£

DSA VOSA
2004-05
706,399
10,386

2005-06
693,254
63,400

2006-07
623,284
72,400

2007-08
672,048
78,600

2008-09
(1)208,512
(2)52,000

(1) DSA switched to 0300 line on 31 October 2008.
(2) VOSA switched to 0300 line on 30 September 2008.

Dave wrote on Feb 8^th, 2009 at 8:54pm:

Be careful, there are much worse lies than this.

The change referred to was from 0870 to 0844 call type "g10".

The numbers in question are most commonly called by conveyancing businesses, who do still benefit from a local rate. Call type "g10" numbers are charged at 3p per minute, no higher than local calls. Most citizens will call local Land Registry offices, which have local numbers.

It is also significant that Land Registry is a self-funding business, supported by fees imposed on service users. This makes it very different from the NHS and the DWP agencies that are (or rather should be) funded exclusively by taxpayers.

I am not try to excuse any lying, just pointing out that one has to be a little careful in choosing one's target. If any particular case can be undermined, there is the danger that this can be seen to undermine all of one's arguments.

House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 12 Feb 2009 (pt 0018)

Departmental Telephone Services

Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many telephone numbers for which callers are charged at the rate applicable to 0845 numbers are used by (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies for public access to services. [246979]

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and its executive agencies maintain one 0845 number. This number is provided as an alternative to the FCO website for users to access up to date travel advice. The FCO receives no financial benefit from this arrangement.

House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 10 Mar 2009 (pt 0010)

Departmental Telephone Services

Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what use (a) his Department and (b) service providers under contract to his Department made of (i) 0844 and 0845 telephone numbers and (ii) revenue-sharing telephone numbers for calls from members of the public; for which services such numbers are used; what prefixes are used for revenue-sharing numbers; how much revenue has accrued from revenue-sharing numbers in each of the last five years; what consideration his Department has given to introducing 03-prefixed telephone numbers for calls to all such services; and if he will make a statement. [247348]

Mr. Woodward: The Department maintains the use of one 0845 number for use by members of the public. This line allows members of the public to request information on the Mentally Disordered Offenders Victim Information Scheme.

No 0844 or 0845 telephone numbers have been used by service providers under contract to my Department.

No revenue-sharing telephone numbers for calls from members of the public have been used by my Department or service providers under contract to my Department.

There are currently no plans to introduce 03-prefixed telephone numbers for calls to my Department.

House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 02 Mar 2009 (pt 0007)

Departmental Telephone Services

Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what use (a) his Department and (b) service providers under contract to his Department made of (i) 0844 and 0845 telephone numbers and (ii) revenue-sharing telephone numbers for calls from members of the public; for which services such numbers are used; what prefixes are used for revenue-sharing numbers; how much revenue has accrued from revenue-sharing numbers in each of the last five years; what consideration his Department has given to introducing 03-prefixed telephone numbers for calls to all such services; and if he will make a statement. [247342]

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has a Travel Advice line (0845 850 28290). The line offers an alternative method for accessing the same travel advice available on the FCO website. In the last six months, 2,642,989 people accessed FCO Travel Advice from the website, 52,251 used the Travel Advice phone line. Calls are charged at the standard rate from a British Telecom line (up to 5p/m) and the FCO receives no financial benefit from the arrangement. We are committed to providing the best possible service to British nationals seeking advice on living and travelling abroad and as part of this ongoing process the introduction of an 03 number will be considered as part of this year's Review of Consular Services.

UKVisas became part of the UK Border Agency International on 1 April 2008. Until that time, UKVisas was part of the FCO. UKVisas did maintain a live 0870 public inquiry line, but this service is not now operational and is unlikely to be used in the future.