§ Mr. Strangasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of manning all switchboards in Government Departments, excluding the Ministry of Defence; and what estimate he has made of the cost if all switchboard operators were directly employed by the Government.
§ Mr. HayhoeInformation on the cost of manning all switchboards in Government Departments is not held centrally. The arrangements for manning switchboards are a matter for individual Departments. They are responsible for ensuring that the most cost-effective method of operating Government switchboards is used, taking account of their particular circumstances.