§ Mr. ChurchillTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost so far of telephone calls made on 0898 numbers(a) by members of the Metropolitan police and (b) by employees of his Department.
§ Mr. Peter Lloyd[holding answer 30 March 1990]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information requested is not available. Possible abuse came to the attention of the Metropolitan police with the introduction of itemised billing and immediate steps were taken to extend call barring of 0898 numbers throughout the force.
25WAll the major telephone exchanges which serve the Home Office are programmed to bar the use of 0898 numbers. There is a small number of private lines, connected direct to local telephone exchange and cell phones which cannot be barred. Itemised billing has been introduced too recently for any worthwhile figures to be obtained on 0898 costs for these services.