§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the use of freephone and freepost facilities currently being operated by her344W Department; how much these facilities are costing; for what purposes these facilities are being used; and how much her Department and its predecessor has spent on operating freephone and freepost facilities in each financial year since 1979.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Department uses freephone and freepost facilities for the public to request and receive free information or materials on health-related subjects and on their rights as national health service patients. The facilities include the health information service and the health literature ordering service.
Costing information for all the Department's freephone and freepost facilities could be provided only at disproportionate cost.