§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost of the victims helpline since its establishment; and what number of telephone calls have been received. [32634]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Jack Straw, dated 10 July 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent question about the victim helpline.From its commencement on 5 December 1994 to 4 July this year, the Helpline had received 192 calls. The total cost over the same period is estimated to be in the region of £23,000 including the start up costs of £8,400.