§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many of his Department's telephone lines used by the general public are responded to by touch tone telephone steering systems; [129617]
(2) how many agencies of his Department use touch tone telephone steering systems when dealing with telephone inquiries from the general public. [129635]
484W
§ Angela EagleThe Department has three telephone lines which are responded to by touch tone.
The Benefits Agency's Child Benefit Centre Helpline and the Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance Customer Care Helpline both use this system.
The Department's Winter Fuel Payments Helpline uses touch-tone technology when all lines are busy. The system give callers a choice between leaving a message or holding to speak to an operator.