§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what budget he has set aside for the Charterline telephone information service he intends to set up in the east midlands pilot project; what charges will be made for the service; how it will be vetted to guarantee that it is politically impartial; and whether he will also fund other citizens' rights information lines which are not under his political control.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe citizens charter unit is still negotiating the contract for this service. Revealing the budget would undermine the charter unit's negotiating position.
Callers will be charged at the local call rate for using the service. The service will direct callers to a contact in the public service organisation which is best placed to answer their query or deal with their complaint. It will therefore be a politically impartial service.
It would not be right to fund other independent information lines which might have other purposes than the provision of information about public service organisations.