HC Deb 19 December 1994 vol 251 cc889-93W
Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many requests have been received by the citizens charter unit for copies of each of the citizens charters; how many such requests have been fulfilled by the unit; and how many have been referred to(a) other Government Departments, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental Government bodies.

Mr. Robert G. Hughes

Individual public services, including Government Departments, deal with requests for copies for their own service charters. Information about the number of requests for these charters, either made directly to the relevant service, or through the citizens charter unit, is not held centrally.

Since 17 October 1994, Inform Communications has operated for the citizens charter unit a citizens charter publication line on 0345 22 32 42. This sends out on request certain citizens charter publications issued by the Office of Public Service and Science, but not the individual service charters. Customers requesting such information are sent a list showing which charters exist and where they can be obtained from individual public services. The current list is as follows:

TABLE I
United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Charter Service
Contributor's Charter 091 225 5134
Social Security
Contributions Agency
Employers' Charter 091 225 7522
Social Security
Contributions Agency
Taxpayer's Charter Please see TABLE II
HM Customs and Excise
Taxpayer's Charter Tax Offices, Tax Enquiry Centres or phone: 071 438 6420
Inland Revenue
Traveller's Charter From Ports and Airport or phone: 071 202 4227
HM Customs and Excise

Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales
Charter Service
Benefits Agency Customer Charter Please see Table II
Social Security Benefits Agency
Child Support Agency Charter 0345 133 133
Child Support Agency
Jobseeker's Charter Please see Table II
Employment Service
Passenger's Charter Please see Table II
British Rail
Redundancy Payments Service Charter 0800 848 489
Employment Department

England and Wales
Charter Service
Courts Charter Court Service Secretariat
Lord Chancellor's Department 071 210 1722
Home Office
Crown Prosecution Service

England only
Charter Service
London Underground's Customer Charter: "the best possible service" Customer Service Centre 071 918 4040
London Underground Ltd

England only
Charter Service
Charter for Further Education Publications Centre
Department for Education 081 533 2000
Charter for Higher Education Publications Centre
Department for Education 081 533 2000
Council Tenant's Charter 071 276 0900
Department of the Environment
Parent's Charter Publications Centre
Department for Education 081 533 2000
Patient's Charter Please see Table II
Department of Health
Road User's Charter The Highways Agency 071 921 4307 (See Table II for other availability)
The London Bus Passenger's Charter Passenger Services 071 918 4300
London Transport Buses

Scotland only
Charter Service
Council Tenant's Charter for ScotlandScottish Office 0345 741 741
Further and Higher Education Charter for Scotland 0345 741 741
Scottish Office
Justice Charter for Scotland 0345 741 741
Scottish Office
Parent's Charter for Scotland 0345 741 741
Scottish Office
Patient's Charter for Scotland 0345 741 741
Scottish Office

Wales only
Charter Service
Charter for Further Education 0222 825862
Welsh Office
Charter for Higher Education 0222 825829
Welsh Office
Council Tenant's Charter for Wales 0222 825282
Welsh Office
Parent's Charter for Wales 0222 761456 Xt 5364
Welsh Office
Patient's Charter for Wales 0222 823219
Welsh Office

Northern Ireland only
Charter Service
Bus Passenger's Charter Ulsterbus/Citybus From all Ulsterbus offices or phone: 0232 354042
Child Support Agency Charter Northern Ireland Child Support Agency 0345 139 700 outside Belfast (local rate) or 0232 896700 within Greater Belfast

Northern Ireland only
Charter Service
Tenant's Charter for Northern Ireland 0232 240588
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Courts Charter for Northern Ireland 0232 328594
Northern Ireland Courts Service
The Citizen's Charter for Northern Ireland

Department of Finance and Personnel

Full report from HMSO (£8.50).

For copy of summary Guide,

phone: 0800 243 174

Parent's Charter 0247 279366
Department of Education for Northern Ireland
Charter for Patients and Clients HPSS Management Executive 0232 524282
Department of Health and Social Services, Northern Ireland
Railway Passenger's Charter Northern Ireland Railways Headquarters 0232 899400
Northern Ireland Railways 0232 899400
Royal Ulster Constabulary Charter From police stations, or phone RUC Headquarters:
Royal Ulster Constabulary 0232 650222 xt 22525
Social Security Agency Charter Chief Executive's Office
Northern Ireland Social Security Agency 0232 522457
Training and Employment Agency Charter 0232 541613
Training and Employment Agency

TABLE PART II

Taxpayer's Charter (Customs and Excise) Available from your Local VAT Enquiry Office. Their addresses and telephone numbers can be found in the phonebook under 'Customs and Excise'.

Benefits Agency Customer Charter Available from all district offices of the Agency. Their addresses and telephone numbers can be found in the phonebook under 'Benefits Agency'. For bulk orders you can write to:

  • DSS Distribution Centre
  • DSS Leaflet Unit
  • Manchester Road
  • Heywood
  • Lancashire OL1O 2PZ (Quote CUST 1).

Jobseeker's Charter Available from all local Jobcentres and Unemployment Benefit Offices. The addresses and telephone numbers of which can be found in the phonebook under 'Employment Service'.

Passenger's Charter Available from all British Rail stations and outlets or by writing to:

  • British Railways
  • Euston House
  • 24 Eversholt Street
  • PO Box 100
  • London NW1 1DZ.

Patient's Charter Copies of the Patient's Charter for England can be obtained by writing to (no stamp required):

  • The Patient's Charter
  • FREEPOST
  • London SE99 7XU.

Road User's Charter Copies are available from most motorway service areas, AA shops and offices, the regional offices of the Department of Transport and the Highways Agency or from the Agency's Headquarters at the following address:

  • The Highways Agency
  • Room 12/23
  • St. Christopher House
  • Southwark Street
  • London SE1 OTE.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will list for each edition of each citizens charter(a) the date of publication, (b) the department or agency responsible for its publication, (c) the name of the responsible Minister, (d) the cost of publication, (e) the cost of its distribution, (f) the means of its distribution, (g) the company, agency or other organisation responsible for its distribution and (h) the payment to such company, agency or other organisation.

Mr. Robert G. Hughes

I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.