HC Deb 10 March 1994 vol 239 cc335-6W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the use of freephone and freepost facilities currently being operated by his Department; how much these facilities are costing; for what purposes these facilities are being used; and how much his Department has spent on operating freephone and freepost facilities in each financial year since 1979.

Mr. Eggar

Comprehensive information about the Department's use of toll-free telephone lines is not collated centrally; but the Department currently operates three national toll-free telephone inquiry services. Their purposes and costs are as follows:

ENTERPRISE INITIATIVE HELPLINE (0800 500 200) The line provides information and a single, comprehensive ordering point for literature about the Department's services for business. The service is bought in. Since its establishment costs have been as follows:

Year £
1987–88 67,000
1988–89 106,700
1989–90 163,600
1990–91 166,400
1991–92 120,500
1992–93 124,200
1993–94 118,000

ENVIRONMENTAL ENQUIRY POINT (0800 585 794)

The line provides United Kingdom businesses with an information and signposting service on environmental issues.

The service is operated by Warren Spring Laboratory. Its costs, excluding staff costs, since inception have been as follows:

£
1990–91 2,076
1991–92 3,311
1992–93 4,184
1993–94 2,262