§ Mr. Higginsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the telephone number of the Department of Health and Social Security in Newcastle is now ex-directory.
§ Mrs. Chalker[pursuant to the reply, 29 October 1979, c. 437]: No.
The telephone number of the Department's Newcastle central office is in the current edition of the local telephone directory. The number is Newcastle 857111.
The telephone number of the child benefit centre at Emerson Building, Washington, is also in the current edition of the local telephone directory. The number is Washington 466722.
The telephone numbers of outstationed buildings are not in the local directory. This is because, with one exception, they house only parts of branches, the main parts of which are in central office or the Emerson Building. Their omission is to avoid confusion to the public by directing calls to the two main offices. In the case of the exception referred to, the telephone number will be in the next edition of the directory.