§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent by his Department on telephone calls and telex charges; and what was the total cost of telephone rental for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. RidleyThe costs to my Department of British Telecom telephone calls, telex charges and telephone rental since 1979–80 were:
figures are published each quarter and are discussed within the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance. We are now incorporating the new authorities—bodies in the survey following the Local Government Act 1985. Although the arrangements are under constant review by the joint manpower watch working group, which has both central and local government representation, there are currently no plans to make major changes. In the main, the arrangements have worked well.