§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the use of freephone and freepost facilities currently being operated by his Department; how much these facilities are costing; for what purposes these facilities are being used; and how much his Department has spent on operating freephone and freepost facilities in each financial year since 1979.
§ Mr. ForthFreephone and freepost facilities are currently being operated by the Department for the following activities:
- A self-governing—GM—schools information line which offers an information pack about GM schools. Estimated cost £20,830;
- Requests for copies of the further and higher education charters. Estimated cost £38,123; and
- Requests for copies of the leaflet "National School Tests in 1994". Costs are unavailable as the campaign has not yet finished.
In 1993, a freephone was available to answer inquiries about GM schools and freephone and freepost were available to request copies of the leaflet on national curriculum testing "How is Your Child Doing at Schoool?" Costs amount to some £29,963.
In earlier years the Department has not directly arranged freephone and freepost facilities. The Central Office of Information has managed campaigns which have included freepost and freepost facilities on behalf of the Department. Figures for these costs are not available from the COI as they would incur disproportionate costs.