§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will bar telephones in his Department from connection to premium rate services.
§ Dr. Mawhinney[holding answer 8 July 1991]: All Departments in Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Office in London are reminded that, in the battle to reduce departmental running costs, the use of call barring, especially for premium rate services, can be an effective strategy.
Where it is technically achievable, call barring is applied to STD and international calls in addition to premium rate services throughout Departments in Northern Ireland and London.
Experience has shown that there are sound operational reasons for retaining access to premium rate telephone services for selected Government staff.
Call barring is used on a site-by-site basis to prevent misuse of the telephone system, while retaining an operationally effective service to users. The Department of Finance and Personnel provides central advice to all Departments on the effective use of telephone services. Call logging equipment is used to identify telephone traffic at a significant number of sites.