§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.
§ Sir John WheelerWithin the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments, freephone facilities are currently used for
152Wthe confidential telephone, the purpose of which is to provide a means for those with information about terrorism to pass on what they know to the police;
§ Sir John Wheeler[holding answer 21 March 1994]: Government funding for projects which involve the promotion of Irish is provided from a variety of sources. Figures prior to the year 1985–86 are not available. Total Government spending in each of the years from 1985–86 was as follows:
the freeline social security service which provides information and advice on social security benefits;the benefit inquiry line which provides specific information about disability benefits and assistance with forms completion to disabled people.Freephone facilities are also operated: by the citizens charter unit for providing information on the charter; by the industrial relations division for general inquiries or claims from members of the public concerning redundancy and employees' rights on the insolvency of an employer; by the industrial research and technology unit to provide an innovation inquiry point for Northern Ireland industry and the public and to provide an environmental inquiry point to assist local industry in seeking professional advice on a broad spectrum of environmental issues affecting their business; and by the Training and Employment Agency to increase awareness among people with disabilities of the support which the disablement advisory service of T and EA can offer.
153WThe information requested regarding operating costs for freephone facilities is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, from information available the estimated cost of freephone facilities for the financial year 1992–93 was £41,112 and for 1993–94 to date is £46,455.
Freepost including the business reply service is currently used for the return of transfer procedure tests, inspectorate papers and statistical information on schools and teachers, for vehicle tax enforcement procedures, for licensing of taxi drivers, and to assist and encourage the return of information required in connection with the processing of claims, benefits and surveys.
The cost of operating freepost including the business reply service is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, from information available the estimated cost for 1992–93 was £426,302 and for 1993–94 to date is £360,359.