There is as yet no indication of when the announcement of the new occupants of non-cabinet positions will be made. The relevant changes so far are as follows:

Department of Health - NHS
New Secretary of State - Andy Burnham.
Vacancy at Minister of State (Health Services) to be filled due to promotion of Ben Bradshaw.

Home Office - Police services and others
New Secretary of State - Alan Johnson

Department for Work and Pensions - Jobcentres etc.
New Secretary of State - Yvette Cooper
New Minister of State - Jim Knight

Department for Transport - DVLA
New Secretary of State - Lord Adonis

Department for Communities and Local Government - Local Authorities and others
New Secretary of State - John Denham

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills - Ofcom's telecomms and postal functions
Clarification of where the Ministerial responsibility in the Commons for Consumer Affairs will lie is awaited

Cabinet Office - Government policy and coordination (e.g. Contact Council)
New responsibility as Minister of State - Tessa Jowell. Vacancy due to resignation of Tom Watson

The establishment of a "Domestic Policy Council" which will "publish a prospectus for Britain's future" and "report to the Cabinet weekly" could perhaps provide an opportunity for a coordinated approach to banning use of revenue sharing numbers in the delivery of public services.

idb wrote on Jun 7^th, 2009 at 12:08am:

The propriety of Mr James Purnell writing a letter in his personal capacity with reference to party political issues using departmental stationery has been raised as a possible theft of a piece of official paper.

Let us hope that his replacement has more concern for necessary public spending than with arguments about providing value for money for customers.

Dave...

All secretaries of state are in the cabinet. i.e. Johnson, Straw, Darling etc.etc. They are the heads of government departments

Ministers of state are the ones below them in each department, and are not members of the cabinet but are in the government.

The cabinet is is usually about 23 or 24

Confusion often arises because sometimes the secretaries of state are mistakingly referred as ministers.

The full list of everyone in the government is here

http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page19564

Interesting to note that the Times today gave details of the telephone numbers for all of the government departments.  The only department NOT having a geographic number for contact was: Children, Schools & Families, Ed Balls department. Contact number for his department was listed as 0870-0012345.  Not much hope should he ever manage to get Gordon's job.

Source: Scottish Parliament

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/publicAudit/papers-09/paup09-10....

PUBLIC AUDIT COMMITTEE
AGENDA
10th Meeting, 2009 (Session 3)
Wednesday 20 May 2009

35. The Committee endorses the Auditor General for Scotland’s recommendation that the Scottish Government should work with the relevant agencies to explore the potential for increased efficiencies [with respect to 999 calls] through improved partnership working and shared services.

The Scottish Government accepts this recommendation and will continue to explore the potential for increased efficiencies. We have set up a 999 Issues in Scotland Group consisting of representatives from ACPOS, the Chief Fire Officers Association Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service, BT, Cable & Wireless, Global Crossing and the Scottish Government which will, amongst other tasks, look at areas where working in partnership could improve the service to the public.

51. The Committee believes that the development of improved access to police services in non-emergency situations requires a consistent national approach and a greater degree of leadership from the Scottish Government.

52. The Committee is also concerned that the use of 0845 numbers by individual forces has potential to increase the cost of calls to the public as many phone operators exclude these numbers from call allowances.

53. The Committee recommends that there should be a single non-emergency number in use across Scotland which should not be an 0845 or other premium rate number. The Committee calls on the Scottish Government to examine detailed proposals for the introduction of such a number.

The Scottish Government agrees that there is potential for improved access to non-emergency services and recognises that the use of 0845 numbers sometimes results in increased costs for the caller. However, for reasons already stated in written and oral evidence to the Committee, the Scottish Government does not accept that a single non-emergency number across Scotland is the answer.

To be effective, a non-emergency number would need to bring together many agencies beyond the eight Scottish police forces. For example, many of the non-emergency calls currently received by forces actually relate to issues proper to local authorities. The Scottish Government considers that the funding and organisational change needed to install an effective national single non-emergency number of this sort would not be justified by the possible benefits. That said, Ministers entirely accept the importance of improving access to public services through a more joined up response. Rather than seeking to impose a “one size fits all” approach, the Scottish Government’s Concordat with local government encourages local authorities and forces to identify local solutions that fit best with the geography, structures and pressures of their particular area.

With respect to the suggestion that 0845 numbers increase the cost of calls to the public, we recognise that calling an 0845 number can be more expensive than calling a local number or an 0300 number. Against this, most people call the police rarely and call lengths are generally short (on average, two and a half minutes.) We therefore think that the cost of calls should be one factor amongst several that forces should consider in regular reviews of their call management arrangements; other factors would include marketing and re-branding costs, the risk of confusion through changing numbers and contingency planning in the case of the force call centre being unavailable.

We are aware that different forces are currently using different approaches. Although most forces are using an 0845 number for non-emergency calls, Central Scotland Police and Strathclyde Police continue to use a range of local numbers across the force area while Tayside Police moved to an 0300 number in March. For the reasons stated above, we are content with forces adopting approaches which best fit local conditions and meet the needs and expectations of the public in that particular force area.

This thread does not seem to have returned from the summer recess!

To keep up to date with relevant references in parliament, I have subscribed to a RSS feed from TheyWorkforYou.com, which provides me with detail whenever certain keywords are mentioned in Hansard.

For the benefit of members and others, I flag relevant items in Google Reader and make them public.

My selections are free to view at this URL.

The format (including US dates) is not customisable and the sequence is a little odd for the backlog that I have collected. In time I may do better with this. A similar technique is used for links to media coverage alongside my blogs.

I will be happy to handle simple questions about RSS feeds by PM or email.

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The latest item, top of the list at present, is worthy of comment.

This written answer contains an admission and defence of use of revenue sharing numbers in connection with 3 chargeable helpline services: The Land Registry telephone service, HM Courts Service (Bulk Centre Helpdesks) and The Legal Services Commission (Community Legal Advice Helpline).

These services are provided on the basis that they offer "value for money". Where services are offered for a fee, it is normal for the terms to be clearly declared to potential users in advance. Someone may wish to look into this further.

House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 20 Oct 2009 (pt 0022)

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091020/text/91020w0...

Telephone Services

Mark Williams: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the Government's policy is on call charges by Government Departments for hon. Members for use of a telephone hotline on behalf of their constituents; and if she will make a statement. [292831]

Angela E. Smith: There are currently no plans to consider special charging arrangements for Members of Parliament calling government service providers on behalf of constituents.

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House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 28 Oct 2009 (pt 0008)

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091028/text/91028w0...

Departmental Telephone Services

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many helplines his Department operates; and how much his Department has received from the operation of such helplines in each of the last three years. [294980]

Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) operates a travel advice telephone information line and does not receive any financial gain from this service.

In addition, in a consular crisis overseas the FCO can release an emergency telephone number for members of the public to use to report the possible involvement of friends or relatives. The FCO does not charge for this service.

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House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 28 Oct 2009 (pt 0010)

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091028/text/91028w0...

Departmental Telephone Services

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will consider the merits of securing accreditation of his Department's helplines to the Helplines Association's quality standard; and if he will make a statement. [295728]

Mr. Simon: My Department does not directly operate any helplines.

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House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 28 Oct 2009 (pt 0022)

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091028/text/91028w0...

Departmental Telephone Services

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider the merits of securing accreditation of his Department's helplines to the Helplines Association's quality standard; and if he will make a statement. [295723]

Phil Hope: The Department's Communications Directorate 0800 helpline numbers are accredited, when it is considered appropriate, with The Helplines Association via the Central Office of Information who manage them on our behalf.

Information on any other telephone services that may be run on behalf of the Department is not held centrally and cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.

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House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 03 Nov 2009 (pt 0002)

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091103/text/91103w0...

Departmental Telephone Services

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many helplines his Department operates; and how much his Department has received from the operation of such helplines in each of the last three years. [294979]

Dan Norris: DEFRA operates one general helpline from which it receives no income.

Animal Health and the Rural Payments Agency, both Agencies of DEFRA, operate the Pets Travel Scheme Helpline and the British Cattle Movement Service Helpline respectively and receive no income from them.

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House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 03 Nov 2009 (pt 0005)

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091103/text/91103w0...

Departmental Telephone Services

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many helplines her Department operates; and how much her Department has received from the operation of such helplines in each of the last three years. [294987]

Jim Knight: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has 10 main customer contact numbers, which we think could be considered 'helplines'.

DWP does not receive any revenue from incoming phone calls. All call charges are levied by the caller's telephone or mobile service provider.

DWP ceased to receive a rebate on 0845 numbers in 2007. Prior to this, the revenue from 0845 calls was approximately £500,000 per year. We do not hold any more detailed information on this rebate.

3 Nov 2009 : Column 817W

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations she has received on changing the charging arrangements for helplines operated by her Department and its agencies to allow mobile telephone users to contact such helplines without incurring additional costs; and if she will make a statement. [295467]

Jim Knight [holding answer 26 October 2009]: Over the course of the year, representations have been received from other Members of Parliament, on similar issues, such as the cost of 0845 numbers to customers using mobile phones to contact the Department for Work and Pensions. All of these have been answered fully and are available on record.

Additionally, DWP's Permanent Secretary was asked to comment on the CAB publication, “Hung Up—The Cost of Contacting Government from a Mobile Phone” A response was provided as requested.

House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 09 Nov 2009 (pt 0023)

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091109/text/91109w0...

Telephone Services

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what her Department's policy is on call charges for hon. Members for use of a telephone hotline on behalf of their constituents; and if she will make a statement. [292830]

Jim Knight: In Jobcentre Plus (part of the DWP) district managers are in regular contact with their local MPs in order to offer the personal assistance they need. Any hon. Member with a query about any benefits should contact the Jobcentre Plus district manager who has overall responsibility for the service to local residents. This service is provided through the district manager's office using geographic numbers and will give hon. Members effective support for a range of different queries. Jobcentre Plus will offer a call back service should any MP express their concerns in respect of charges.

The Pension, Disability and Carers Service provide a dedicated telephone service for the express use of Members of Parliament who require information on pensioner or disability and carer-related matters. The helpline numbers are 0113 232 4279 (Pensions) and 01253 333233/333533 (Disability/Carers), both geographic numbers. PDCS will also offer a call back service should any MP express their concerns in respect of charges.

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House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 11 Nov 2009 (pt 0049)

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091111/text/91111w0...

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will estimate the cost to her Department of changing its main benefit claim 0845 telephone numbers to 0300 numbers. [294045]

Jim Knight [holding answer 19 October 2009]: The Department uses 0800 numbers for its main benefit claims, and not 0845 numbers, and the Department's policy is that calls to 0800 numbers should be free. The Department has not therefore estimated the costs of changing its 0800 main benefits claims numbers to 0300 numbers.

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House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 12 Nov 2009 (pt 0039)

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm091112/text/91112w0...

Jobcentre Plus: Telephone Services

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the charge per minute is of a telephone call to Jobseekers Direct from (a) at BT landline, (b) a landline operated by another provider and (c) a mobile telephone; and which organisation holds the contract for operating the Jobseekers Direct telephone service on behalf of Jobcentre Plus. [298961]

Jim Knight: The Department’s strategy is that calls to claim benefit should be free to a customer so it uses 0800 freephone numbers for these calls. For calls for other reasons, including Jobseekers Direct, which typically take less time to resolve, the Department uses 0845 numbers.

12 Nov 2009 : Column 786W

BT, the largest landline provider, does not charge for 0845 calls where the customer has a call plan and the call is made within the call plan times. Where this is not the case, charges are typically in the range of 2p to 4p per minute.

From landlines operated by other providers, research carried out earlier this year shows a range of charges varying from ‘free’ to 7p per minute.

For calls to 0845 numbers from mobiles, research carried out earlier this year shows charges are typically in the range of 10p to 40p per minute, depending on the package chosen. These rates can vary as mobile providers change their charging policy.